FRISCO, Texas — Dallas Cowboys special teams coordinator Nick Sorensen said Thursday that Brandon Aubrey’s record contract was “a nice, calming thing” for the kicker, three days before Aubrey opens his fourth season against the New York Giants.
Kickoff at MetLife Stadium is Sunday at 7:20 p.m. CT on NBC. On April 20, Aubrey agreed to a four-year, $28 million extension with $20 million guaranteed, making him the first kicker in NFL history with a $7 million annual average, The Associated Press reported. Dallas had placed a second-round tender worth $5.76 million on him in March, when he was a restricted free agent.
Having a consistent plan and sticking to it was the main thing Sorensen worked on with Aubrey after last season, in their second year together.
“Just stay consistent was the main thing,” Sorensen said. “Obviously, we know he’s got the leg, very accurate. It was really just having a consistent plan, which we start talking about after the season, and then when they come back in the offseason.
“I think getting his contract was a nice, calming thing for him, put him in a good head space, even though he kicked really, really well last year,” Sorensen continued. “So it’s just about a consistent thing with him, sticking to his plan and staying to it.”
Brandon Aubrey’s 2025 Season And Career Numbers
In 2025, Aubrey made 36 of 42 field goals, including 11 of 17 from 50 yards or longer, and 47 of 48 extra points. His long was 64 yards. He was a second-team All-Pro for the second straight year and made his third straight Pro Bowl.
Through three seasons, Aubrey has made 112 of 127 field goals, an 88.2% rate. His six field goals of 60 yards or more are the most in NFL history, according to the AP. He set the franchise record with a 65-yarder in 2024.
The contract has not changed him, Sorensen said, calling it a big blessing for Aubrey and his family.
“He doesn’t change much, no, not really,” Sorensen explained. “I think it’s just a big blessing for him and his family, but he’s a pretty consistent guy.”
Brandon Aubrey Voted A Cowboys Captain Again
Cowboys players voted Aubrey one of four team captains for 2026, along with quarterback Dak Prescott and defensive tackles Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark. Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer announced the captains Sept. 3. Aubrey was also a captain in 2025, when Dallas named six.
A vote from teammates shows the respect they have for Aubrey, according to Sorensen.
“I think it just goes to show the respect they have for him,” Sorensen said. “Anyone that gets voted captain by their teammates, that’s a huge honor. It means a lot.”
Aubrey will use his voice “when he needs to,” Sorensen said. “He’s just so steady, and everyone has the supreme confidence in him, as they should.”
Aubrey went to Plano High School and played soccer at Notre Dame. Toronto FC drafted him in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft. He was working as a software engineer in Arlington when he started kicking, spent two seasons with the USFL’s Birmingham Stallions, and signed with Dallas before training camp in 2023. He was a first-team All-Pro as a rookie.
Sunday’s game is outdoors, and outdoor games change the plan for where Aubrey places his kickoffs, Sorensen said.
“Improving kickoff coverage, I think it starts with us covering the ball, covering where it’s kicked,” Sorensen said. “Most of these, you can’t be too creative with it based on how the alignments are, so it’s really just winning your one-on-one. If you have a double team, you’ve got to fight through it and not just avoid a space, because most of the time, wherever that double is, that’s where they’re trying to design the return to be. So it’s really technique, mindset, the fundamentals of that.
“And then with Brandon, we just get specific to where we want the ball to be placed, and as consistent he can be to that,” Sorensen added. “Obviously, when you have outdoor games, it’s different, so we talk about that, too. But we’re in communication with that. He’s usually pretty easygoing with right or left kicks and the placement and stuff like that. He’s not real picky about it.”
In the regular-season finale at MetLife on Jan. 4, Aubrey made one of two field goal attempts and missed from 50-plus yards in a 34-17 loss to the Giants.
