Cowboys rookie kicker Brandon Aubrey ties NFL record after working as software engineer two years ago

ARLINGTON, Texas — Finding continuity on the kicker place has kept away from the Dallas Cowboys since Pro Bowler Dan Bailey, the franchise’s all-time chief in made box targets (186), departed for the Minnesota Vikings in 2018 after seven seasons with Dallas (2011-2017). They have cycled via Brett Maher (2018, 2019, 2022),  Kai Forbath (2019) and Greg Zuerlein (2020-2021) since, however it sounds as if the Cowboys can have discovered their long-term long term on the place with 28-year-old rookie Brandon Aubrey. 

The league’s record for many box targets with out lacking to start out a occupation is eighteen, which was once set again within the 2015 season via Cleveland Browns kicker Travis Coons. On Sunday, Aubrey’s two made box targets all over the Cowboys recreation towards the Rams has him tied as the NFL’s all-time record-holder. 

“Yeah, not something I’ve thought a lot about, just trying to go out there and do my job,” Aubrey mentioned postgame when requested about tying the record. “I’ve done it so far, and I hope to keep doing it in the future. I just want to go out there and make my kicks, so I’m not really concerned with much other than doing that.”

The first of Aubrey’s two made box targets on Sunday was once from 58 yards out, the longest of his seven-game NFL occupation. 

“It felt great, anytime you get an opportunity to go out there and showcase your talent you want to go and prove it, so it felt good to get that opportunity and put it through the uprights,” Aubrey mentioned of his 58-yard kick that was once proper up the center and would had been excellent from past 60. 

“He kicked that field goal after a sack, and we were actually in fourth down territory mode there,” Dallas Cowboys head trainer Mike McCarthy mentioned postgame on Sunday. “That’s the kind of resilience and kickback you have to have. It’s all part of that complimentary football formula. The special teams picks up for the offense there. Excellent, excellent kick, he is really stroking the ball at a really high level right now.”

Aubrey’s age and adulthood is prime for rookie, however that is for the reason that NFL is the 3rd act of his skilled sports activities occupation. The Plano, Texas local spent his school years enjoying football at Notre Dame as a defender the place he totaled 15 targets in 76 video games. His collegiate occupation ended in a first-round draft variety to Major League Soccer in 2017 after he was once selected via Toronto FC. However, his time ran out a yr later in 2018.

Fast ahead 4 years to 2022, and Aubrey repurposed his leg for soccer, which right away paid dividends. He become the USFL’s most sensible kicker for its absolute best crew, the Birmingham Stallions, connecting on 14 of his 15 box targets and all 35 of his additional issues for the 2023 league champions. That efficiency made him noteworthy sufficient to be introduced again house to Texas as a Dallas Cowboy the place he competed with Tristan Vizcaino all offseason for the best to be triumphant the departed Brett Maher as the crew’s subsequent kicker. Vizcaino, who had kicked for 4 NFL teams, was once launched on August 7, paving the best way for Aubrey. Since, he has been actually easiest on his box targets, draining all 16, together with the game-winner from 39 yards out within the Cowboys’ 20-17 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on “Monday Night Football” in Week 6. 

“I feel like I didn’t come in as a rookie,” Aubrey mentioned Wednesday. “I feel more like a sophomore having played in the USFL for a couple years, but I know it’s not exactly the same [as the NFL]. As a kicker, it kind of is the same. You just have your operation to deal with [the snap, hold and kick], but I didn’t really feel the same way as when I was coming to my rookie year in the MLS. I’m more mature, I knew what to expect. I’m ready for what it meant to be a professional athlete, which I can’t say was true of my MLS rookie year.”

Prior to the beginning of the 2023 season, McCarthy has bestowed the absolute best praise he may give a kicker that he coaches: evaluating him to a younger Mason Crosby. The now 39-year-old kicker performed 16 seasons with the Green Bay Packers from 2007, McCarthy’s 2nd season as head trainer with the Green Gold, in the course of the 2022 season. Crosby is the Packers all-time main scorer (1,918), all-time chief in made box targets (395), and all-time chief in additional issues made (733). Crosby’s 395 occupation made box targets and 753 additional issues made also are essentially the most within the NFL since his debut in 2007.

“He [Aubrey] can crush it,” McCarthy said postgame after the Chargers win in Week 6. “He is so consistent. I enjoy watching him work. He is off to a great start. I don’t know that I have seen a start like this in my time with a kicker.”

McCarthy hasn’t in my opinion skilled a get started like Aubrey’s as a result of what his rookie kicker is doing will cross down within the NFL’s all-time record books. 

“Yeah, absolutely,” Aubrey mentioned when asking if he’s having a laugh in the market. “Just kicking one ball, doing my job. You got a field goal opportunity to go make, you just go and do your best to make that opportunity. That’s [the record] something you don’t think about. I have never been a big history guy, so I don’t think about it.”

Most box targets made with out lacking to start out NFL occupation

* Streak recently energetic

“He is butter,” Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott said of Aubrey postgame after defeating the Los Angeles Chargers 20-17 on “Monday Night Football.” “Butter Aubrey. Smooth, always has been since the day he showed up. I am a big fan of his game. I met and have known him years before he became a Dallas Cowboy. One of my best friends trains him. To know his story and following him when he was in the USFL and then for us to take a chance on him when we had another kicker [Tristan Vizcaino] in the preseason. He’s an athlete playing kicker. When you have that, he has been a professional in soccer, in another football league and now in the NFL, he is mature as hell. Butter with it. Smooth. No surprise.”

“I’m happy he [Prescott] has a good feeling for me,” Aubrey mentioned. He discovered of the nickname within the locker room after apply Wednesday when speaking to native media. “I hadn’t heard it before.”

Perhaps one reason Prescott is so coming near near along with his reward of Aubrey is as a result of Aubrey’s kicking trainer, Brian Egan, was once one in all Prescott’s absolute best pals and teammates in school at Mississippi State. Aubrey getting attached with Egan was once natural accident.

“My kicking coach is his [Prescott’s] college roommate and best friend,” Aubrey mentioned. “I had met him [Prescott] a couple times before signing with the Cowboys, but other than that, no real prior relationship. I just googled kicking coaches in the Dallas area, and he was the first one to pop up. So, he had good software search optimization [SEO].”

He started working with Egan 3 months into his day activity as a software engineer, and their coaching in combination whilst Aubrey was once a standard member of America’s paintings pressure went on for 3 years from 2019-2021 when his USFL alternative got here to fruition.