Former Birmingham Stallions Kicker Brandon Aubrey Becomes Dallas Cowboys, NFL Record Holder
Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey started his sports career playing a different type of football with a soccer ball. Aubrey's right foot has made him one of the most extraordinary stories of the 2023 NFL season, and he's setting NFL records with each kick.
Aubrey was a successful soccer player with Notre Dame, scoring 15 goals in 76 games as a defender.
Toronto FC selected Aubrey with the 21st pick in the first round of the 2017 MLS SuperDraft. While he never made an appearance with the club, he did play for Toronto FC II of the MLS Next Pro, playing in 21 games. He also played 26 games for Bethlehem Steel FC in 2018.
Aubrey stepped away from football to become, of all things, a software engineer. It was Aubrey’s wife who encouraged him to try football after watching games on TV in 2019. That led to him hiring a kicking coach and training until the Birmingham Stallions brought him in to be their kicker in 2022.
The Stallions selected him in the 2022 USFL Draft. Aubrey started fast, converting 18-of-22 field goal attempts, including a long of 49 yards. He also made 22-of-24 extra-point attempts. He finished with 76 total points and seven touchbacks, which earned him All-USFL Team honors. The Stallions won the first-ever USFL championship.
Aubrey only missed one field goal in 15 attempts and made all 35 extra-point attempts in his second season. He scored a USFL career-high 77 points to help Birmingham win a second straight title.
The Cowboys signed Aubrey to compete for the starting kicking job during August training camp in Oxnard, Calif. Although he wasn't perfect, he won the job and earned a roster spot.
His first NFL kick did not go smoothly. He missed a point-after attempt. But has yet to miss a field goal. Aubrey is a perfect 35-of-35 on field goals through Week 17. Aubrey blew past the previous consecutive made field goals record to start a career when he nailed his 19th kick. He's converted 44-of-47 extra points. Aubrey even added a Pro Bowl selection in his first season in the NFL.
The ending of his story has not been written. It has only begun. From soccer player to spring football star to NFL record breaker is a lesson that a league like the new UFL provides players a chance to build tape to get in the NFL. Aubrey is a poster boy of the importance of spring football for the development of the game.
Aubrey and the Cowboys close out the regular season Sunday at the Washington Commanders. Dallas (11-5) has already clinched a playoff spot.
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Anthony Miller has been covering professional spring football since 2019 including XFL, USFL, and CFL. He was a local news reporter in Texas before transitioning to sports. Other sites he writes for includes College Football Network and NTZ Network.