After the Dallas Cowboys’ Week 18 loss to the New York Giants, many fans were understandably ready to turn the page. But even some of the team’s most loyal supporters found themselves concerned about their usually automatic kicker.
After going 16-for-16 on field goals in the first eight weeks, Brandon Aubrey went 20-of-26 on field goals to close out the season. That included two misses from 50-plus yards against the Minnesota Vikings.
It's important to remember that Aubrey's bar is ridiculously high. Thanks to his clutch gene and long-range accuracy, he’s positioned himself as one of the best kickers in the league. While he didn’t quite meet his own standards to close out the season, the Cowboys don't want anyone else attempting those kicks.
Cowboys' Brandon Aubrey is still one of the NFL's best kickers despite late-season cold spell
Brandon Aubrey misses from 57 yards to the left. His six misses this year have been from 57, 58, 51, 59, 51 and 68 yards this year.
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) January 4, 2026
To be fair to Aubrey, all of his misses this season were from more than 50 yards out. Anywhere from inside 50, he's had no problem.
Yes, Aubrey is held to a different standard than 98 percent of kickers, but it's not like we're talking about consistent misses in the 40-40 range. He only missed two field goals inside 55 yards all season while drilling three (!) from beyond 60 yards. "Butter" is still an alien, no doubt about it.
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It's time for Jerry Jones to make Aubrey the highest-paid kicker in the NFL. Fans may be skeptical given the Joneses’ stubborn history with contracts, but Aubrey is a one-of-a-kind talent who can legitimately swing games. It’s understandable for fans to overanalyze even a minor slump, but that’s only because he’s firmly in the league’s top tier at the position.
Aubrey is already a superstar, making the Pro Bowl in each of his first three seasons in the league. Coming from Plano Senior High School in Plano, TX, Aubrey is a household name for a lot of fans. His late-season stretch wasn't up to his own standards, but we've come to expect perfection from him. That isn't sustainable, no matter how great you are.
The Cowboys don't have a Brandon Aubrey problem. The only problem is if Jerry Jones drags his feet with Aubrey's contract, and Dallas is suddenly in a position to lose its stud kicker.