Brenden Bates (born October 17, 1999) is an American professional football tight end for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Kentucky Wildcats and was signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2024. Early life Bates was born on October 17, 1999, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Both his parents, his two siblings, and his grandfather each played collegiate sports. He attended Moeller High School in Cincinnati where he played football, basketball, and competed in track and field. In football, he was twice named first-team All-Greater Catholic League and had 17 receptions for 305 yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior. Bates was selected for the national team at the International Bowl. He was ranked a four-star recruit and one of the top tight ends nationally. In addition to his pass catching abilities, he was also considered a top blocker; he told the Lexington Herald-Leader that "I take pride in blocking. I just love moving people against their will." He committed to play college football for the Kentucky Wildcats. College career As a true freshman at Kentucky in 2018, Bates redshirted, appearing in two games. The following season, he appeared in 13 games on the special teams unit. He played in only six games in 2020 due to injury, making his first career catch that year. In 2021, he was a starter in six games and totaled 11 catches for 70 yards, including his first collegiate touchdown. He recorded 10 receptions for 99 yards and one touchdown during the 2022 season. He returned for a final season in 2023, as all players were given an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In his final year, he caught four passes for 89 yards. He finished his collegiate career having recorded 26 catches for 272 yards and two touchdowns, while having started 25 of the 58 games in which he appeared. He was invited to the 2024 Hula Bowl all-star game.