Aubrey has tied the NFL record for most consecutive made field goals to start a career with 18 this season

Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey did not take the conventional path to the NFL.

In 2016, Aubrey earned All-American honors as a senior on Notre Dame’s men’s soccer team. Seven years later, he is one made field goal away from NFL history.

Through the first eight weeks of the NFL season, Aubrey is a perfect 18-18 on field goal attempts, tying the most consecutive field goals to start a career.

Travis Coons set the record in his rookie season with the Cleveland Browns in 2015. Should Aubrey convert one more field goal attempt against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, he will officially pass Coons in the record books.

After graduating from Notre Dame, Aubrey was selected No. 21 overall by Toronto FC in the 2017 MLS Draft, spending one season with Toronto’s USL affiliate before being released. He then played one more season in the USL with the Bethlehem Steel FC, but was cut again in 2018.

With his pro sports hopes fading, Aubrey decided make one last attempt, attending a free high school clinic run by former Mississippi State Kicker, Brian Egan, in 2019. Naturally, Aubrey stood out.

“Obviously, figured out pretty quickly he wasn’t in high school,” Egan told USA TODAY Sports.

“The drive that he had, I really believed in him. I’m going to take you as seriously as you take the craft that you’re doing,” Egan recanted.

“He showed up every time when he said he was going to show up. He said what he was going to do. Ultimately, it’s hard not to root for and pull for a guy like that.

Aubrey trained with Egan several times a week after his 9-5 engineering job, and after two years, he got his shot.

The Fighting Irish alum was drafted by the Birmingham Stallions in the 32nd round of the 2021 USFL Draft. He won two USFL championships with the Stallions before Dallas signed him to their roster in July.

“His talent, his demeanor, his attitude – he’s such a likeable guy, because he’s so low-key, he’s one of the guys,” Stallions head coach Skip Holtz said.

Aubrey missed the first extra point attempt of his NFL career against the New York Giants in Week 1, but has not missed another kick, field goal or extra point, since.

“It’s been amazing, just seeing where he started to where he is now,” Egan said. “Going from training for two years straight, not knowing if he’d ever have the opportunity to play professional football, to getting signed by the USFL, to play there at a high level for two years, and now being a Dallas Cowboy.

“It’s been a heckuva ride and just a joy to watch.”