How a Missed PAT Launched Cowboys’ Aubrey to Stardom
From Soccer Fields to NFL Stardom: The Brandon Aubrey Story
How a Software Engineer Became an All-Pro Kicker for the Dallas Cowboys
Photo: Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News
The Big Picture
Brandon Aubrey isn’t your typical NFL player. He didn’t play college football. He didn’t get drafted. Instead, he:
- Played professional soccer for years
- Worked as a software engineer
- Taught himself to kick footballs at age 27
- Became an All-Pro kicker for the Dallas Cowboys in just a few years
Important Point: Great careers don’t always start perfectly. Aubrey missed his very first NFL kick — but that didn’t stop him from becoming one of the best.
The Journey: A Timeline
| Year | What Happened |
|---|---|
| 2018 | Retired from soccer (played for Bethlehem Steel FC) |
| Dec 2018 | Picked up a football for the first time, just for fun |
| 2019–2022 | Worked as a software engineer while training to kick |
| 2023 | Got his first football job in the UFL (spring league) |
| 2023 | Signed with the Dallas Cowboys |
| 2024 | Became an All-Pro kicker |
| 2025 | Signed a long-term contract extension with the Cowboys |
The Rough Start: Missing His First NFL Kick
What happened in his very first game?
- Cowboys blocked a field goal and ran it back for a touchdown
- Team went up 6–0
- Aubrey ran out for the extra point — his first NFL kick ever
- He missed it
How did he handle it?
- Didn’t panic — "As a kicker, it’s your job to move on really quickly"
- Used mental skills from soccer — lots of success AND failure there
- Focused on "neutral thinking" — not positive, not negative, just ready for the next one
- Got advice from veterans: Brian Anger (10+ years in NFL), Trent Sieg (6–7 years), and coach John Fassel
- Got another chance later that same game (after a pick-six) — and made it!
Key Lesson: The kick itself is only part of the job. The preparation before the swing matters just as much.
The Special Teams "Family"
Aubrey works with the same two guys every single play:
- Brian Anger — Punter (holds the ball)
- Trent Sieg — Long Snapper (snaps the ball)
Why this matters:
- They’ve been together for years — no learning curve
- The "operation" (snap → hold → kick) is automatic
- When Aubrey got his new contract, he bought Breitling watches for all three of them + his kicking coach!
Fun Fact: "One for me, one for Brian, one for Trent, and one for my kicking coach."
Training Camp Life
What’s different each year?
- New players arrive every season
- Schedule changes — new head coach Brian Schottenheimer revamped the daily routine
- But the core special teams unit stays the same
What’s the vibe?
"Players are all bought in to the philosophy, the culture, and are working hard and having fun at the same time — which is a recipe for a lot of fun and success."
Fame: The "Generic White Guy" Advantage
Does he get recognized?
- Yes, more than he’d like
- But: "I look like a generic white guy. If I’m not wearing Cowboys gear, it takes a serious fan to spot me."
- First time recognized: At his favorite Mexican restaurant during his rookie bye week
- Reward: Free Mexican candy shot from the waiter!
How does he handle it?
- Goes to the same places where staff knows him
- They protect his privacy — "take care of us"
From Soccer to Football: The Long Road
The honest truth from Aubrey:
"It was a long journey. I retired from soccer in 2018. Started kicking footballs December 2018. Didn’t get my first job in the UFL until 2023. That’s a long journey. It was difficult… I felt like I was constantly banging my head against the wall."
Why he almost quit:
- Soccer contract ended, team folded
- Was about to get married
- Making ~$30,000/year (below poverty level)
- Had a software engineering degree — could get a real job
- Did get a software job — but dreaded it
- Started kicking footballs while job hunting — realized he might be good at it
His advice for other soccer players:
- Yes, more will try this path
- But: "It’s going to be a long, brutal journey… and some guys are built for that."
Summary
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| Who | Brandon Aubrey, Dallas Cowboys kicker |
| Background | Pro soccer player → Software engineer → NFL All-Pro |
| Big Break | Signed with Cowboys in 2023 after 4+ years of training |
| Rookie Moment | Missed first NFL extra point — bounced back same game |
| Contract | Signed long-term extension in 2025 |
| Team | Works with same punter (Anger) & snapper (Sieg) for years |
| Mindset | "Neutral thinking" — stay calm, focus on next kick |
| Message | Success takes time, failure is part of the process |
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
Q: Did Brandon Aubrey play football in college?
A: No! He played college soccer at Notre Dame, then went pro in soccer. He never kicked a football in a game until he was 27 years old.
Q: How long did it take him to make the NFL after switching sports?
A: About 4.5 years. He started kicking footballs in December 2018 and signed with the Cowboys in 2023.
Q: What does "neutral thinking" mean?
A: It’s a mental skill where you don’t get too high after success or too low after failure. You just reset to "ready for the next play." Think of it like a video game respawn — same focus every time.
Q: Why are the punter and long snapper so important to a kicker?
A: Every kick is a three-person operation:
- Long snapper snaps the ball perfectly
- Punter catches it and places it down (hold) with the laces just right
- Kicker swings
If any of those three messes up, the kick fails. They practice together thousands of times.
Q: Is it common for soccer players to become NFL kickers?
A: It’s rare but growing. Aubrey thinks more will try, but warns: "It’s a long, brutal journey." Most who try don’t make it — but the ones who do (like him) prove it’s possible.
Final Thought: Brandon Aubrey’s story reminds us that it’s never too late to start something new, and failure early on doesn’t define you — how you respond to it does. Whether you’re 8 or 28, the next kick is always a fresh chance.