Ex-Dallas Cowboys kicker Brett Maher is back in our lives, sort of. He was named the special teams coordinator of the University of Nebraska, his alma mater and home state, per an official team announcement.
Nebraska’s own.
— Nebraska Football (@HuskerFootball) February 18, 2026
Brett Maher has officially been named Special Teams Coordinator. pic.twitter.com/NbSoahXtK5
Cowboys Nation probably doesn't remember Maher fondly after watching him set the single-game NFL record for missed extra points in the 2022 playoffs. His career took a drastic turn for the worse from that moment. Dallas went in a different direction that offseason, and he fizzled out of the league following a failed stint with the Los Angeles Rams.
It felt like that would be the last we heard of Maher. However, he's quietly remained involved in football as part of Nebraska's program; his redemption arc now takes a significant step forward.
Ex-Dallas Cowboys kicker Brett Maher continues comeback story at Nebraska
Maher, a Kearney native who graduated from Nebraska, joined the coaching staff in 2024 as a special teams consultant. He was brought on as a full-time assistant in 2025 before his latest promotion. Now, the Cornhuskers will lean on him to maximize their kicking game.
During his playing days at Nebraska, Maher was incredibly productive. He still holds the top spot in school history for most points by kicking in a season (119). His efforts earned him back-to-back Kicker of the Year Awards in 2011 and 2012, plus Punter of the Year honors in the former campaign.
Yes, things didn't work out between Maher and the Cowboys. Nevertheless, his strong track record of success outside of Dallas in a critical yet underappreciated facet of the game speaks for itself. Nebraska is ostensibly betting that he'll tap into what made him a linchpin of their third unit over a decade ago.
Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule called Maher a "rising [star] in the coaching profession" when breaking the news of his climb up the ranks. That's quite lofty praise, and it suggests whatever plagued the former Cowboys booter in Dallas is no longer an issue.
For what it's worth, both sides have come a long way since Maher's flameout with the Cowboys. He's moved onward and upward at Nebraska, while Dallas discovered a hidden gem in former professional soccer player Brandon Aubrey. The latter has blossomed into a perennial All-Pro with the strongest leg in the league.