What a difference a year makes.
In January 2023, the Dallas Cowboys kicking game was on red alert. Brett Maher imploded in a wild card playoff game win over Tampa Bay.
Maher missed four of his five extra-point attempts in the 31-14 victory.
The misfires prompted a pre-game pep talk from Jerry Jones the next week in San Francisco.
Maher promptly shanked his first point after trying so badly that it was easily blocked. He did make two field goals in the game, however.
Still, the Cowboys’ confidence in Maher was shot and he was let go.
As the 2023 season winds down in January 2024, the kicking game is the least of Dallas’ worries.
Despite some shaky kicks during training camp at Oxnard, Brandon Aubrey has been rock solid. The rookie already owns an NFL record.
On Sunday, Aubrey will have a legitimate chance to set two more.
Record Holding Rookie
Aubrey already broke the record for most kicks to begin an NFL career.
On Nov. 5th, at Philadelphia, Aubrey nailed a 51-yard attempt to give Dallas a 17-14 halftime lead.
It was his 19th-made field goal in 19 attempts. It also broke Travis Coons (2015) record of 18 to start a career as the Browns’ kicker.
Aubrey has added 16 more successful kicks to his record since.
He has made nine from inside 30 yards, 13 from 30-39 yards, four from 40-49 yards, and nine from 50 and beyond.
His longest field goal is 60 yards. It came against the Eagles at AT&T Stadium in a 33-31 win on Dec. 10th.
It was also on a night when he made three other field goals of 45, 50, and 59 yards.
Records In Sight
In 2003, while kicking for the Colts, Mike Vanderjagt — a former Cowboys’ kicker — set the NFL record for most field goals made in a single season without a miss at 37.
In 2017, Harrison Butker was the Chiefs’ rookie kicker. He holds the record for most field goals made in a single season by a rookie with 38.
Butker missed four kicks that year.
Aubrey needs to hit on three kicks without a miss to break Vanderjagt’s mark and tie Butker’s. A fourth make without missing would give Aubrey three NFL records.
Not bad for a rookie and welcome news to Dallas after years of kicking woes.
The Impossible Dream
There is one mark that seems far out of reach for Aubrey this season.
He would need nine field goals on Sunday to match, and 10 to exceed, David Akers’ record for most made field goals in a single season.
Akers was the 49ers’ kicker in 2011. He made 44 field goals that year – four more than Daniel Carlson in 2021 and Neil Rackers in 2005.
It is highly unlikely Aubrey would have that many chances in the season finale.
The NFL record for most field goals made in a single game is eight, held by Titans’ kicker Rob Bironas in 2007.
Cowboys Kicking Records
The Cowboys record for field goals made in a single game is seven, held by Chris Boniol (1996) and Billy Cundiff (2003)
Aubrey is the current Cowboys’ leader for field goals made in a single season as well as field goals made without a miss.
Richie Cunningham (1997) and Greg Zuerlein (2020) both made 34 in a single year. Cunningham was 34-for-37 while Zuerlein was 34-for-41.
Dan Bailey is the Cowboys’ all-time leader in made field goals at 186. Aubrey is currently 16th for Dallas all-time.
He trails Roger Ruzek (39) and Time Seder (36) as possible players to pass on the list on Sunday.
Aubrey could become the first Cowboys’ kicker to finish at 100% in field goals for a season. Dan Bailey hit 93.8% of his field goals (30-for-32) in 2015.
NFL All-Time Field Goals Made Single Season
Based on information gathered from Pro Football Reference.
- Player FGM Year Tm
- 1st
- David Akers 44 2011 SFO
- t-2nd
- Daniel Carlson 40 2021 LVR
- Neil Rackers 40 2005 ARI
- t-4th
- Robbie Gould 39 2017 SFO
- Olindo Mare 39 1999 MIA
- Jeff Wilkins 39 2003 STL
- t-7th
- Harrison Butker 38 2017 KAN
- Stephen Gostkowski 38 2013 NWE
- Justin Tucker (2) 38 2013/2016 BAL
- Greg Zuerlein 38 2017 LAR
- t-12th
- Ka’imi Fairbairn 37 2018 HOU
- Stephen Gostkowski 37 2017 NWE
- John Kasay 37 1996 CAR
- Younghoe Koo 37 2020 ATL
- Justin Tucker 37 2022 BAL
- Mike Vanderjagt 37 2003 IND
- t-18th
- Cary Blanchard 36 1996 IND
- Chris Boswell 36 2021 PIT
- Al Del Greco 36 1998 TEN
- Nick Folk 36 2021 NWE
- Stephen Gostkowski 36 2008 NWE
- Jason Sanders 36 2020 MIA
- t-24th
- Gary Anderson 35 1998 MIN
- Brandon Aubrey 35 2023 DAL
- Rob Bironas 35 2007 TEN
- Chris Boswell 35 2017 PIT
- John Carney 35 2008 NYG
- Jay Feely 35 2005 NYG
- Stephen Gostkowski 35 2014 NWE
- Ali Haji-Sheikh 35 1983 NYG
- Jeff Jaeger 35 1993 RAI
- Nick Novak 35 2016 HOU
- Matt Stover 35 2000 BAL
- Caleb Sturgis 35 2016 PHI
- Ryan Succop 35 2017 TEN
- Justin Tucker (2) 35 2018/2021 BAL
- Adam Vinatieri 35 2013 IND
- Blair Walsh 35 2012 MIN
