The Dallas Cowboys have grappled with uncertainty at the kicker position for several years, dating back to the moment when Dan Bailey, once their reliable kicker, faced a loss of form in 2017 due to an injury sustained in Week 7.
The Cowboys made a surprising move by releasing Bailey in September of the following season, and he went on to continue his career in Minnesota.
In the aftermath of Bailey’s departure, the kicker position turned into a revolving door, with a series of kickers passing through The Star.
Brett Maher’s third stint with the team came to an end due to accuracy issues, and he was once again released last offseason, a decision that raised eyebrows at the time.
The Cowboys opted for a different approach, seeking their next kicker during the preseason, where they found Tristan Vizcaino and former USFL and soccer standout Brandon Aubrey.
Maher’s subsequent journey through various teams, including his recent release by the Rams, suggests that the Cowboys made the right call. And the selection of Brandon Aubrey for the 2023 season has brought them no regrets.
As team owner Jerry Jones recently expressed, “I think we got us a kicker!”
Throughout the first seven weeks of the season, Aubrey, a native of McKinney, has been nothing short of spectacular.
He has maintained a perfect record, successfully converting all 16 of his field goal attempts, making him one of only five kickers in the league with a 100 percent success rate.
His accuracy extends to long-range attempts, where he is two-for-two, with a remarkable long field goal of 55 yards.
It’s worth noting that Aubrey’s background in soccer didn’t deter him from becoming just the sixth kicker in NFL history to start his career 16-for-16 or better.
Brett Maher was known for his high rate of touchbacks on kickoffs, and Aubrey has proven equally effective in this aspect, boasting a 97.2 percent touchback rate, which ranks fifth in the league.
While the Cowboys have faced criticism at times for their persistence with certain position groups, in the 2023 season, they have unquestionably found stability in the kicker position with the emergence of Brandon Aubrey.