The Dallas Cowboys have dealt with plenty of roster problems over the last few campaigns, but they haven't given a second thought to the kicker position since Brandon Aubrey's fortuitous arrival. He had a well-earned reputation not just for being automatic, but automatic from 50 and even 60-plus.
Lately, though, that just hasn't been the case.
Aubrey is far from the Cowboys' biggest issue as they sit at 3-5 during the 2026 NFL season, with the defense being close to the forefront and Brian Schottenheimer's head coaching shortcomings making an ironclad case for first place, especially lately. It's hardly something that needs addressing.
But between Aubrey's inconsistency as of late, which truthfully dates back to the latter half of last year, and Dallas' entire offensive strategy shifting because they know that they have Aubrey in their corner, the Cowboys have a multi-pronged issue on their hands that needs resolution.
Brandon Aubrey hasn't been the same kicker from 50+ for the Cowboys
Although Aubrey's kickoffs are undeniably the best in the league, which give Dallas better field position than any other team in the NFL, his field goals have been an issue. On Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, he had makes from 31, 35 and 41, and he made all three extra points.
He missed from 61, though.
And while that may not sound like a big deal, Aubrey makes $7 million a year to make those kicks. This was not just a one-off either, as Aubrey has missed seven of his last 15 kicks from 55 or more yards, and four straight from 59 yards or longer. That can't happen at his price point.
To be entirely fair to Aubrey, a handful of these kicks have been blocked, and one of them was from 65 yards. NFL kickers really aren't expected to consistently make kicks from that distance. But Aubrey simply has to be better than 3-for-7 from 50+, which is what he is in 2026.
In 2025, he was 11-for-17 from 50+, which is 64.7 percent. The year before that, he was 14-for-17, which is 82.4 percent. In 2023, he was a perfect 10-for-10. That's 100 percent. Are you noticing a trend? Blocks and longer attempts are part of the equation, but they don't account for that falloff.
The worst part is that Schottenheimer still operates as if Aubrey is the 2023 or 2024 version of himself, and not the player who has missed over half of his last 15 kicks from 50+ yards. And he calls his offenses conservatively because of it, to no avail, of course.
Dallas is far too conservative and reliant on a struggling Brandon Aubrey
Simply put, Schotteheimer clams up a bit when the Cowboys get past the 50-yard line because he feels confident in Aubrey's ability to make from anywhere. This is especially true near the end of halves, but Aubrey's tendency to miss, or for Dallas to allow blocks, has come back to bite them.
Instead of trying to push the ball downfield and relying on the $60 million quarterback and two elite wide receivers, Schottenheimer will telegraph runs and, in his mind, take three points instead of trying for seven and risking a turnover, which would net them zero. Aubrey is a crutch that he uses.
Again, that would be fine if Aubrey was nailing deep field goals at an unprecedented clip, as he was in the past. But recent history tells us that not only should Schottenheimer be more aggressive because touchdowns are better than field goals, but also because Aubrey isn't as reliable as he was.
Maybe a good portion of the struggles is the team's field-goal blocking, as several kicks have been batted down. But that would also be another reason for Schottenheimer to keep his foot on the gas and to be more aggressive in getting closer field goals or trying for touchdowns.
Not all of this is Aubrey's fault; it is a product of his unbelievable success. And the expectation that he'll make from that distance reliably comes with the territory of his track record and his contract. But if Aubrey doesn't correct course, it will continue to plague the Cowboys and expose Schotty's flaws.
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