Brandon Aubrey of the Dallas Cowboys has had a unique path to the NFL.
Aubrey is a former first-round MLS draft pick who briefly spent time with Toronto FC. He then shifted his focus to soccer, where he played for Bethlehem Steel FC in the USL.
Aubrey played in all 10 games for the Birmingham Stallions in the 2022 USFL season, making 18 of 22 field goals and 22 of 24 extra points. After winning the USFL Championship, Aubrey returned for the 2023 season and made 14-of-15 field goals and 25-of-35 extra points, helping the team win its second consecutive championship.
After the season, Aubrey's contract expired and he ultimately earned a spot in the NFL with the Cowboys. He made an immediate impact by making 36 of 38 field goals, earning first-team All-Pro honors and a Pro Bowl selection.
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Aubrey was the NFL's leading scorer in 2023.
Now, he hopes to continue his success and believes the rule changes will allow him to be even better on the field. Aubrey talked about the NFL's new kickoff rules and said his football experience will help in a unique way.
“I like it,” Aubrey said of the new rules. “You have to work on hitting the ball in different ways, putting your foot in slightly different places in different places, wrapping your foot around the ball. Maybe, I think.” [the soccer background] Helpful. Getting out on the soccer field and doing a workshop is a skill that I brought to this kickoff. ”
“It will give me a chance to save my leg and hit the ball in a unique way. [Fassel] He's aggressive, so it gives me every opportunity to go out there and try things, make some mistakes and live with it.”
Special teams coordinator Jim Fassel also said he expects Aubrey to bring a new twist to the kickoff game because of his skill set.
“I think there's a place for knuckleballs and squirrelballs. We've got to catch it and they'll probably have to do the same,” he said. “Kickoff specialists, in my opinion, their skills have changed completely 180 degrees. We expect there to be a lot of unknowns.”
The NFL's goal with the new kickoff rules was to make that side of the game interesting again.
If kickers approach kickoff in 2024 with the same mindset as Aubrey, they could bring a new level of excitement to a part of the game that has become increasingly irrelevant.