Cowboys Kicker Brandon Aubrey’s Unlikely Rise Could Soon Lead to the Most Expensive Contract in NFL History at His Position

Dallas, Texas — Few NFL success stories are as improbable, inspiring, or unconventional as the journey of Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey. In a league where specialists are often overlooked until something goes wrong, Aubrey has not only become indispensable — he has arguably redefined the modern value of a kicker.

Now, after three historically efficient seasons, the Cowboys face an unavoidable reality: keeping Aubrey will require a significant financial commitment, one that could result in the largest kicker contract in NFL history.

From Soccer Pitch to NFL Stardom

Brandon Aubrey’s path to the NFL reads like fiction. Long before he was drilling game-winning field goals at AT&T Stadium, Aubrey was a standout collegiate soccer player at Notre Dame, where he established himself as one of the program’s most reliable performers. His success earned him a first-round selection in the MLS SuperDraft, and he briefly played professional soccer after graduating.

But despite his pedigree, Aubrey struggled to gain traction in Major League Soccer. Opportunities dwindled, and eventually, he found himself preparing for life outside of professional sports altogether.

The turning point came in the most unexpected way.

While watching an NFL game on television, Aubrey’s wife saw a kicker miss a routine field goal. She turned to her husband and suggested something that would change their lives: “You could do that.”

Instead of brushing it off, Aubrey listened.

Betting on Himself — and Winning

Aubrey began studying the mechanics of place-kicking, adapting his soccer background into football-specific technique. The transition was far from automatic, but his natural leg strength, precision, and work ethic quickly stood out.

His first real break came in the USFL, where he impressed enough to earn an NFL opportunity. The Dallas Cowboys invited him to training camp in 2023 — and from the moment he stepped onto the field, it was clear he was different.

Since joining the Cowboys, Aubrey has been nothing short of elite.

Over three NFL seasons, he has converted 88.2% of his field goal attempts, a figure that ranks fifth all-time in league history among kickers with comparable volume. Even more impressive, he has been nearly automatic on extra points, going 126-for-130.

Consistency, however, is only part of the story.

Accolades That Demand Attention

In just three seasons, Brandon Aubrey has accomplished what most kickers never do across entire careers:

• Three Pro Bowl selections in three years

• First-team or second-team All-Pro honors every season

• Multiple long-distance field goals that changed games

• A reputation among coaches and players as one of the most reliable weapons in the NFL

In an era where games are increasingly decided by narrow margins, Aubrey’s value cannot be overstated. He has turned potential losses into wins and removed uncertainty from late-game decision-making.

That performance level has put the Cowboys in a challenging — but enviable — position.

A Contract Situation the Cowboys Can’t Avoid

As the Cowboys prepare for an offseason in which they have publicly committed to being aggressive in free agency, contract restructuring will be a central theme. Creating salary-cap flexibility means some deals will be adjusted downward.

Aubrey’s contract, however, is moving in the opposite direction.

He is currently playing on a three-year, $2.7 million deal, one of the biggest bargains in the NFL given his production. That contract is expiring, and Aubrey is due a massive raise to reflect his market value.

According to Spotrac, a fair deal for a kicker of Aubrey’s caliber would be approximately four years, $25.8 million — an average of $6.45 million per year. That number would surpass the current benchmark set by Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, who earns $6.4 million annually.

In other words, Brandon Aubrey is positioned to become the highest-paid kicker in NFL history.

Restricted Free Agency and the Tender Strategy

Because Aubrey entered the league as an undrafted free agent, he is classified as a restricted free agent (RFA) after three accrued seasons. That designation gives the Cowboys a powerful set of options.

According to ESPN’s Todd Archer, the most likely immediate move is for Dallas to place a second-round tender on Aubrey.

“Since he was not drafted, All-Pro kicker Brandon Aubrey is likely to receive the second-round tender,” Archer wrote. “The Cowboys had talks with Aubrey’s agent, Todd France, on a multiyear deal last summer but never got close. Perhaps those get rekindled in the offseason.”

The second-round tender is projected to cost the Cowboys between $5.7 million and slightly over $6 million, depending on final league calculations. That would guarantee Aubrey a one-year salary while allowing him to negotiate with other teams.

If another franchise signs Aubrey to an offer sheet and the Cowboys choose not to match, Dallas would receive a second-round draft pick as compensation.

Given Aubrey’s production, it’s almost certain the Cowboys would match any external offer.

Why the Tender Is Only a Temporary Solution

While the tender provides short-term security, it is not a long-term answer. From a cap-management perspective, the Cowboys would prefer to convert Aubrey’s value into a multi-year deal that lowers his immediate cap hit while keeping him under team control.

That approach mirrors how teams handle elite players at other positions: guarantee long-term commitment while smoothing year-to-year cap implications.

A likely scenario is that the Cowboys apply the tender, then resume negotiations with Aubrey’s agent, Todd France, to finalize a deal that:

• Makes Aubrey the highest-paid kicker in the NFL

• Keeps his 2026 cap hit below the tender amount

• Locks him into Dallas for four or five seasons

The Changing Value of Kickers in the NFL

Historically, kickers were treated as interchangeable parts. Today, that mindset is outdated.

With offenses pushing the limits of scoring efficiency and defenses struggling to generate stops, games are often decided by one possession or less. In those moments, a reliable kicker is not a luxury — it’s a necessity.

Analytics have reinforced what coaches already know: an elite kicker can be worth multiple wins over the course of a season.

Brandon Aubrey embodies that value.

A Decision That Will Define the Cowboys’ Offseason

How the Cowboys handle Aubrey’s free agency will signal how seriously they view special teams — and roster construction as a whole. Letting him walk would be a self-inflicted wound. Overpaying him without cap planning would be careless.

The smart play is clear: invest in a proven difference-maker at a position where certainty is rare.

From a former soccer player on the verge of retirement to one of the most valuable kickers the NFL has ever seen, Brandon Aubrey’s story is already remarkable. Soon, his contract may be just as historic.

And for the Dallas Cowboys, paying him won’t be optional — it will be essential.