Dallas Cowboys ‘Worst to Best’: Rookie Kicker Brandon Aubrey Setting NFL Records
The Dallas Cowboys suffered a gut punch on Sunday, falling to the Philadelphia Eagles 28-23 in a divisional game that they needed to have.
While losing in such a heart-breaking fashion hurts, and no one will argue that it doesn't, there were some bright spots from this game. For example, Dak Prescott had one of the best performances of his career and the defense did a solid job of containing the Eagles' potent rushing attack.
Another bright spot was the performance of kicker Brandon Aubrey, who has been rock solid in his rookie season. On Sunday, Aubrey made a 51-yard field goal just before halftime to not only give Dallas a 17-14 lead, but to etch his own name in the NFL record books. That kick marked Aubrey's 19th straight made field goal to start his career, the longest streak in NFL history.
Aubrey makes a kick during an earlier game.
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
While Aubrey is technically a rookie, he is far from a traditional one. The 28-year-old spent his college days at Notre Dame playing soccer rather than football. He even spent time with Toronto FC of the MLS and Bethlehem Steel FC of the USL as a professional soccer player.
The St. Louis native always had an interest in American football, though, and he eventually made the switch in 2022. Aubrey got his start with the Birmingham Stallions of the USFL, and in two seasons with the team, he made 32 of 37 field goals and 57 of 59 extra points. The Stallions won the USFL championship in both years Aubrey was there, and he was an all-USFL selection in 2022.
In July, the kicker-needy Cowboys decided to give Aubrey a chance at the NFL level, and that decision has already paid dividends. He missed his first extra point attempt in Week 1, but has been absolutely perfect since then. It's even more impressive considering four of his field goals have come from 50+ yards away, with the longest being a 58-yarder against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 8.
In just a few short months, Aubrey took the Cowboys from having one of the worst kicker situations in the league to one of the best. This newest record is just a reflection of how good he has been in Dallas.
