LAS VEGAS — Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey quickly learned he had a good shot at catching the ball with his right foot.
Aubrey made a 66-yard field goal in the Cowboys’ 27-12 preseason win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday night, tying the NFL record set by Baltimore Ravens’ Justin Tucker in 2021.
“It was like nothing happened,” Aubrey said. “The ball hits your foot, bounces a little bit, sticks to your foot for just a split second and then it flies away. The ball takes off, shoots off your foot, and you know right away it was a good, clean hit.”
Aubrey’s 65-yard pass came off the floor and may have been a bit short in last week’s preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. After the game, head coach Mike McCarthy said the team considered trying a 72-yard pass to Aubrey earlier in the drive, but “Bones wasn’t keen,” referring to special teams coordinator John Fassel.
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Trey Lance quickly went to the ground at the Las Vegas 48 with three seconds left and assisted Aubrey’s 66-yard kick with a 20-yard run.
Aubrey, a first-round draft pick by MLS’ Toronto FC, only started kicking a few years ago before joining the USFL’s Philadelphia Stars, but was the NFL’s leading scorer last year with 157 points.
He made 36 of 38 field goal attempts last season, including 35 consecutive makes for the first time in his career, and was 10 of 10 from 50 yards or more, including a 60-yarder against the Philadelphia Eagles.
“It’s a great weapon to have when you want to get to 50 points,” McCarthy said.
The kick hit the net, but it’s unclear how far the shot was from. According to Next Gen Stats, the kick had an 8% field goal probability.
“It certainly looked like there was plenty left,” McCarthy said.
Aubrey said, “I don’t know. It’s kind of hard to see from behind.”
Aubrey noticed during pregame warmups that the ball was flying pretty well inside Allegiant Stadium.
“You come out here, there’s no wind, perfect conditions and it’s Las Vegas so they’ve got a nice grass field with a little elevation change. It’s a nice place to play,” he said.
This may also be the power of being a new father.
Minutes after the Cowboys’ loss to the Rams, Aubrey was jogging to Los Angeles International Airport to catch a flight home to his wife, Jen, where they were due to give birth to their son, Colton.
“The game finished around 4:39 and I got to the terminal around 5:15,” Aubrey said. “I went to the game. I got home around 12:30 and left for the hospital around 4:30. I didn’t have a lot of time. I couldn’t sleep during that time and obviously couldn’t sleep for the next couple of days afterwards. I just had to catch up and recover.”
Aubrey returned to Oxnard, California, for training camp in time for Thursday’s practice.
“It’s been very busy,” he said, “and tiring, but it’s been an exciting, life-changing week. Probably the best week of my life.”
When Aubrey returns home from training camp on Thursday, he will receive a football and a pair of cleats as a gift for his son.
“Either way, the shoes are going to be discontinued soon, so it’s time to retire them,” he said.
So, what’s the longest kick Aubrey has ever kicked?
“You messing around by yourself? Seventy yards,” he said.
In the regular season, McCarthy may not cut corners after Saturday’s game.
