Bill Bates is a former NFL safety who is one of only three players to play his entire 15 year NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys.

Bates attended Farragut High School in Knoxville, Tennessee. Bates attended the University of Tennessee where he was second team All-SEC as a junior and senior.

A remarkable story of an overachiever, Bates joined the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent, where he spent his entire career.

He was a one-time Pro Bowler in 1984 as a special teams player, a spot that was basically created for him, where he was also elected All-Pro that season. While with the Cowboys, he played in Super Bowls XXVIII and XXX. 

His autobiography is entitled Shoot for the Star. On August 18, 2005 Bates was inducted into the Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame. Bill Bates is a Christian speaker.