Okay, let’s talk about Brandon Aubrey. You might know him as the guy who kicks footballs through uprights for a living, and really well, I might add. But the real question on everyone’s mind is: how much does this dude actually get paid? Buckle up, because we’re diving into his wallet—respectfully, of course.
First, a little context: Aubrey isn’t your typical NFL kicker. He was a soccer player first, then a software engineer, and then—plot twist—he became a Dallas Cowboy. Seriously, the guy went from coding to kicking in what feels like a weekend. It’s like he woke up one day and said, “You know what, let me just nail 60-yard field goals for a living instead.”
The Numbers, Baby
So, what’s the damage? According to the fine folks at Spotrac, Brandon Aubrey signed a four-year contract with the Dallas Cowboys in 2024. The total value? A cool $13 million. That’s million with an “m,” my friend. For perspective, that’s enough to buy a small island—or, you know, a really nice house in Texas with a pool shaped like a football.
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Now, let’s break it down like a kickoff. His base salary for 2025 is about $2.85 million. Not too shabby for a guy who used to kick balls for fun in college, right? But wait—there’s more! He also gets a signing bonus of $4.5 million, which is basically his “welcome to the NFL, here’s a pile of cash” gift. I bet that cleared up any buyer’s remorse for the Cowboys.
Guaranteed Money: The Safety Net
Here’s where it gets juicy: $8.2 million of that contract is fully guaranteed. That means even if he suddenly decided to retire to become a professional tiddlywinks player, the Cowboys still owe him that money. It’s like a golden parachute, but for your foot. Guaranteed is a beautiful word when you’re the one with the leg.
Cowboys Make Brandon Aubrey Highest-Paid Kicker In NFL History - The Spun
In his first year (2024), he pocketed $4.5 million from that signing bonus alone. Plus, his base salary that year was $795,000, which is still more than most of us will see in a decade. So, yeah, he’s doing fine. Fine is an understatement. He’s basically printing money every time he swings his leg.
Comparing Him to Other Kickers
Let’s put this in perspective. The highest-paid kicker in the NFL is Justin Tucker (Ravens) at about $6 million per year. Aubrey’s average salary is $3.25 million per year, which puts him in the top tier of kickers. He’s not the richest kicker, but he’s close. And considering he was a soccer player turned engineer turned star, that’s a legendary career arc.
Think about it: He’s out-kicking his college buddies, his coding co-workers, and probably his own expectations. If I had his money, I’d buy a car that drives itself to the stadium. But he’s humble—he probably just buys a new pair of cleats and calls it a day.
NFL news: Cowboys make Brandon Aubrey the highest-paid kicker in league
What About Incentives?
Oh, you thought we were done? Nope! His contract includes roster bonuses and workout bonuses. Roster bonus means he gets extra cash just for showing up. Workout bonus means he gets paid to stay in shape. I get paid roughly zero dollars to sit on my couch and eat chips, so this feels unfair. But hey, he earned it—he’s nailing 59-yarders like it’s nothing.
Also, if he keeps making the Pro Bowl or being an All-Pro, there are likely performance escalators. That means he could make more if he keeps treating footballs like they owe him money. Spoiler: he’s on track to do exactly that.
The Fun Part: How He Spends It
Okay, so we know he has cash. But what does he do with it? Rumor has it he’s a low-key guy. He probably spends it on laser hair removal for his legs (kickers are paranoid about that), or maybe a vintage arcade game for his house. Actually, I like to imagine he uses his signing bonus to buy a giant trampoline just because he can. “Why do you have a trampoline, Brandon?” “Because I’m a kicker. Duh.”
Cowboys' Brandon Aubrey becomes highest-paid kicker | Reuters
In reality, he’s likely saving like a responsible adult. But let’s pretend he’s buying a solid gold statue of himself doing a celebration. That’s more fun. Or maybe he’s investing in a goat farm—because he’s the G.O.A.T. of turning soccer into football success. I’ll see myself out.
A Surprising Fact
Before he was a kicker, Brandon worked as a software engineer. That means he was probably making a decent salary, like $100K a year. Now? He’s making $4.5 million in year one. That’s a 45x raise. I don’t know about you, but I would’ve taken that deal in a heartbeat, even if I had to wear tight pants. He made the switch from coding to kicking, and honestly, it’s the most relatable career pivot since someone left accounting to become a clown.
He once said in an interview that he missed the “competitiveness” of sports. Well, buddy, you got it. And a multimillion-dollar paycheck to go with it. Talk about winning at life.
Cowboys make Brandon Aubrey highest-paid NFL kicker with 4-year, $28M
The Bottom Line
So, how much does Brandon Aubrey get paid? A lot. Enough to make you question your own career choices. Enough to buy a house, a car, and a lifetime supply of Gatorade. Enough to make his mom say, “I always knew you’d be great at something other than missing the bus.”
Here’s the uplifting part: Brandon Aubrey’s story is a reminder that it’s never too late to chase a wild dream. He went from being a regular guy with a day job to an NFL star with a monster contract. If he can do it, maybe you can too—though I don’t recommend quitting your job to try out for the Cowboys tomorrow. Unless you’ve got a cannon for a leg and a knack for converting 50-yarders. In that case, what are you waiting for?
In the end, remember this: Brandon Aubrey gets paid because he believed in his weird, wonderful talent. He kicked his way into a life most of us only dream about. So go ahead, chase your own goal—even if it’s just a half-yard line. And smile, because somewhere, a former software engineer is laughing all the way to the bank, and he’s probably doing it with a perfect spiral. Go get ‘em, Brandon.