Some NFL coaches are reluctant to throw Hail Mary’s in end-of-half situations because the potential of an interception being added to the stat sheet can hurt the quarterback’s confidence long-term.

When the Lions signed Jake Bates over the offseason, his defining trait was a massive leg.

While playing for the United Football League’s Michigan Panthers, he became famous for delivering a 64-yard winner.

Naturally, it was pretty exciting to see Bates trot out for a 60-yard attempt against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field — and even more so after a penalty backed it up to a 65-yard try.

While Lions special teams coordinator Dave Fipp doesn’t think there’s a mental aspect to worry about with Bates, but missed kicks from any distance are often used against a kicker.

“People are like, ‘Oh, well he was only whatever percent that year,’ and it’s like, yeah, but three of them were situations like Bates had (Sunday) … and some guys have none of those (attempts) and you’re comparing the guy who had none of those kicks to the guy who had three of those kicks and the guy went 0-for-3 on those,” Fipp said.

Bates’ attempt against Chicago — which would’ve come just a yard short of the 66-yard record set by Justin Tucker (Baltimore Ravens) and Brandon Aubrey (Dallas Cowboys) — missed by a few yards worth of distance and went a few feet wide.

However, Bates said there’s no mental downside to trying a kick that he might not be able to hit consistently.

“I don’t want to speak for everybody, but … I wanted that kick,” Bates said.

“I know the chances when you’re back there are slim, so you know, a miss still stings, but I don’t want them to be like, ‘Oh, we don’t want him to miss, so we’re not gonna send him out there.’ “I want that kick for sure.”

Bates said he gets “excited” when they call on him to try something few other kickers have the leg to do.

“More than anything, I just want the kick because I believe I can put it in, and that puts points on the board, which helps the team,” Bates said.

“I mean, I haven’t gotten to swing at one that deep yet.

“Obviously, it sucks that it didn’t go in, but yeah, it was fun to get out there and swing at one.”

Fipp said he hopes he gets another chance to see Bates swing at a long-range kick indoors.

Bates is 23 of 26 on field goals this season, with two of his misses coming from 50-plus, a distance from which he is five of seven.

“If you’re a kicker you want a chance to swing at the long ones,” Fipp said.

“I’m hoping he gets a chance to swing at one of those things indoors from far back there because I know what he’s got.”