Brandon Aubrey’s path to becoming one of the NFL’s top kickers has taken a few turns. Before joining the Dallas Cowboys, he played professional soccer in Major League Soccer and the United Soccer League.
At 31, Aubrey says he wasn’t ready to leave soccer, but after being cut more than once, he began to question whether he could stay on a roster. The pay in the USL’s second tier was limited, too. As a software engineering graduate, he could earn about three times as much in that field.
He had recently married his wife, Jenn, and didn’t want to put their family in a difficult financial position, so he took a software engineering job. The work, he said, wasn’t much fun. Jenn had a steady career and encouraged him to try kicking in the NFL.
With her support, Aubrey worked toward a new career, eventually landing a job in the USFL. From there, NFL teams took notice, and he joined Dallas.
Now in his fourth season with the Cowboys, Aubrey has made the Pro Bowl in each of his first three years. He has converted 127 of 146 field-goal attempts, including a career-long 65-yarder, and made 146 of 151 extra points.
One kick in particular stands out. In Week 2 of the 2025 season, the Giants took a 37-34 lead with 25 seconds remaining, and Dallas appeared headed for an 0-2 start. New York had just scored on a long touchdown pass to Malik Nabers, who celebrated by pretending to fall asleep.
The Cowboys managed to move the ball into field-goal range, leaving Aubrey with a 64-yard attempt to tie the game. By historical odds, it was a difficult kick. He made it, sending the contest to overtime, then hit a 46-yard field goal as time expired to seal a 40-37 Dallas win.
Aubrey has also focused on his smile, saying he didn’t take good care of his teeth as a college athlete and young adult. He credits Invisalign clear aligners with helping him feel more confident, and says he sees a connection between feeling good about your appearance and how you perform.
