‘Book it’ – Rival coach makes bold prediction about Cowboys’ Brandon Aubrey while comparing NFL controversy to baseball’s Steroid Era
NFL kicking balls are causing controversy around the world of football and naturally, Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey’s name came up in the discussion.
No one can take away from Brandon Aubrey what he’s done since joining the Dallas Cowboys in 2023. Since there, he ranks first in the NFL in field goals made, 50+ yard field goals, and overall kicking points. In the process, he’s re-written the record books, becoming the first kicker ever to make 14 field goals of 50+ yards in a single season and becoming the second kicker ever to record four field goals of 60-yards plus.
But according to Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, this year, Aubrey and every other kicker in the NFL are getting outside help because of changes to league rules and he even compared it to Major League Baseball’s infamous Steroid Era.
“These kicking balls that they changed this year have drastically changed the kicking game, field goals in particular. It’s almost like they need an asterisk here like it was the live ball era or the asterisks for those home runs Bonds, Sosa, and Maguire were hitting,” Fangio said.
Are kicking balls different in the NFL in 2025?
- The short answer is no. But a new rule change passed in the offseason changed how they’re regulated.
- The official wording by the NFL was the new rule “permits clubs to prepare kicking footballs (“K-Balls”) before game day, similar to the process permitted for game footballs.”
- Baltimore, Cleveland, Houston, Las Vegas, Minnesota, Philadelphia, and Washington were co-sponsors of the proposed rule change in the offseason.
Fangio makes bold prediction about Cowboys’ Brandon Aubrey
While Fangio discussed the change with reporters earlier this week, he brought up Aubrey and predicted him to shatter the NFL record for the longest field goal ever.
“In years past, the officials would rub them down or other people would rub them down and you would play with them,” Fangio added. “Now the balls are in house all week and they kick those balls that they have and nobody else touches them. The guy in Dallas is going to hit a 70-plus yarder this year, you can just book it.”
The record for the longest field goal ever is Justin Tucker’s 66-yarder from 2021. In this year’s preseason, Cam Little made a 70-yarder, though it’s not official in the record books.
The rule change is rapidly causing controversy around the league. On one hand, Fangio is suggesting it’s made it easier on kickers and comparing it to Barry Bonds’ home runs. On the other, NFL Network’s insider Mike Garafolo noted on Monday how 50+ yard field goals are actually down in efficiency compared to last year.
Controversies aside, Cowboys fans sure hope Fangio’s prediction comes true. Watching Aubrey blast a 70-yarder would be epic.
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