Bates played college football at Iowa State University as a quarterback and wide receiver from 2007 to 2008.
[5] On December 27, 2014, Bates was called up from the Browns practice squad to their active roster for their season finale against the Baltimore Ravens after Josh Gordon was suspended by the team after failing to attend a team walk-through.
[9] Bates joined the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League in the second half of the 2015 CFL season.
Following a Week 15 loss the Argos, the front office decided to release four of their wide receivers on the same day including Phil Bates.
[10] Reports suggest the four wide receivers were not committed to the Argos and had been a source of division in the locker room for some time.