Kicker Brandon Aubrey’s remarkable journey with the Dallas Cowboys hit two new peaks this week: the serious business of a looming mega-contract, confirmed by Jerry Jones himself, and an honor that places him in a fraternity with legends like Tom Brady and Justin Tucker.
The Cowboys’ official social media account shared a delightful update: “NVP @Brandon_Aubrey has been named this week’s @Nickelodeon Valuable Player!” It was Sandy Cheeks (the aquatic squirrel from SpongeBob SquarePants) who announced on NFL Slimetime that the kicker beat Bengals quarterback, Jake Browning, and Colts running back, Jonathan Taylor, to the award.
“I’m very happy to be Nickelodeon NVP,” Aubrey said as his teammates poured Nickelodeon’s signature green slime on him—a perfectly absurd capstone to a terrific week on the gridiron. But then again, it’s not like he also didn’t bag a more serious recognition for his heroics.
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Well, he was also named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week by the league on Wednesday. This isn’t his first time either. He won it as a rookie against the Rams in 2023 and then last season, thanks to a victory over the Buccaneers. All things considered, it certainly isn’t a surprise that he is up for a record-breaking deal with the Cowboys.
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Yes, Jerry Jones’ efforts might not have worked with Micah Parsons, but he sure is optimistic about Aubrey. After Jones’ recent words, Dallas surely isn’t letting the star go anywhere. “He certainly is coming. We’ll be looking at that,” Jones stated, adding, “Probably have had communications since the kick. But he’s certainly in the future.”
This future is being built on the foundation of a wild Week 2 win over the New York Giants. Aubrey’s 64-yard field goal at the buzzer tied one of the longest in NFL history, forcing overtime. He then calmly drilled a 46-yard game-winner as time expired in OT to secure a thrilling 40-37 victory.
It was a performance for the ages, making him the first player ever to hit a game-tying kick with zeros on the clock in the 4th and a game-winner with zeros on the clock in OT. So, of course, Jones wasn’t going to let him explore free agency. Entering the final year of a deal set to pay him $1.03M, Aubrey’s extension talks are now headline news.
Kicking into fortune: Aubrey’s value skyrockets
The finances are staggering. The current highest-paid kicker is Harrison Butker at $25.6M total. Given Aubrey’s stats—a 90.1% career FG rate, a franchise record-setting 65-yarder, and the most 50-plus yard kicks in a season (14 in 2024), he could command around $28M. Yet, for the former software coder, money has never been the prime motivator.
“If an extension comes, then an extension comes. If not, I’m still making 10 times what I was making working code,” he told The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, showcasing a perspective as steady as his leg. He’s left the negotiations to his agent, Todd France who also represents Dak Prescott (what did Prescott have to say about Aubrey?), while he focuses on his craft.
That focus is what powers these record-long kicks. Aubrey isn’t just accurate; he’s historically clutch from deep, having already tied the NFL record with four makes from 60+ yards (second being Brett Maher). His mindset is the key. He doesn’t just hope to make them; he expects to. He can comfortably “put it at 70, 71,” he told the NFL Network. His secret? A healthy dose of controlled optimism and self-belief.
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“Just reminding myself that I’m built for this moment: ‘You’re the best person on the planet to do this job, so go out there and make the kick,’” he revealed. It’s a mantra that has already earned him two All-Pro selections and now, the title of Nickelodeon Valuable Player. For a guy who rewrites the record books almost weekly, it’s just another day at the office. For the Cowboys, it’s proof that they have a legendary leg they cannot afford to lose.