Brandon Aubrey's extension with Cowboys proves he's no ordinary kicker

Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey. Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Brandon Aubrey's record-breaking extension with Cowboys proves he's no ordinary kicker

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Apr 20, 2026 5:17 PM ET

Don't write a blank check for a kicker, unless it's Brandon Aubrey.

The Dallas Cowboys signed Aubrey to a four-year, $28M contract extension (including $20M guaranteed) on Monday, making him the highest-paid kicker in NFL history. Houston Texans kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn was the highest-paid kicker in the NFL in terms of average annual salary ($6.5M per year) before Aubrey signed his deal.

Giving Aubrey this much could seem preposterous, especially when the Cowboys have yet to sign wide receiver George Pickens to a multiyear contract. Dallas has placed the franchise tag on the pass-catcher and has until July 15 at 4 p.m. ET to extend him.

Retaining 2025 second-team All-Pro Pickens is imperative for Dallas, but so is retaining Aubrey, who isn't another run-of-the-mill kicker.

BREAKING: Brandon Aubrey and the Dallas Cowboys reached an agreement on a deal that will make Aubrey the highest-paid kicker in NFL history, per @AdamSchefter.

The four-year extension makes Aubrey the first kicker to earn $7 million per year and receive $20 million guaranteed. pic.twitter.com/GM7PLjPVa5
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) April 20, 2026

Why it was smart for the Cowboys to extend Brandon Aubrey

Aubrey, of course, played soccer for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish from 2013-16 and was selected by Toronto FC with pick No. 21 in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft. (He never latched on with the club, playing zero games for the squad.) His soccer background has given him seemingly limitless range as an NFL kicker.

Aubrey ranked third in the NFL in points (155) in 2025 and went 11-of-17 on field-goal attempts from 50-plus yards in 17 games. His longest made field goal was a 64-yarder, which he made before time expired in regulation during a 40-37 overtime win over the New York Giants in Week 2. Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer was confident Aubrey could've drilled an even longer kick.

The @dallascowboys have signed Kicker Brandon Aubrey to a four-year, $28 million extension

Remembering when he hit a 64-yarder to tie the game as time expired, before kicking the game-winner an NFC East rivalry game vs the @Giants pic.twitter.com/GS0j6EmVX4
— NFL UK & Ireland (@NFLUKIRE) April 20, 2026

"We would try it from 70-ish. We've seen him make those before," the coach said (h/t Lawrence Dow of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram). "We always want to try to get as close as we can. But he's always like, yeah, I'm good. And, yeah, that's pretty cool. [Quarterback Dak Prescott's] always like what's the line to make, and I'm like, yeah, 50-ish. You know, 50-ish. He's like, OK, that's like a 67- to 70-yard field goal. So there's really not one, but the confidence you see the guy kick with is incredible."

And that luxury is something most teams in the NFL don't have, which is why it makes sense to pay Aubrey, who's no ordinary kicker.

Clark Dalton

Clark Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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