Former Bethlehem Steel defender now kicking for the Dallas Cowboys

A lot can happen in five years.

And if you’re Brandon Aubrey that includes going from Bethlehem Steel center back to a placekicker for the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL.

The Texas native made his NFL debut on Sunday, kicking a pair of field goals and converting four out of five extra points in a 40-0 win over the New York Giants.

The former national champion at Notre Dame – he was a rookie forward for the Irish when they won the College Cup in Chester in 2013 – played one season with the Philadelphia Union reserve squad after signing a USL Championship contract in early 2018. He logged 2,346 minutes in 27 appearances that season for a playoff team.

Aubrey retired from soccer after his one season with the Steel, which was just his second season in professional soccer. He was drafted into MLS with Toronto FC but spent 2017 with Toronto FC II.

After starting a second career as a software engineer, his wife inspired him to try placekicking when they were watching an NFL game. “You could do that,” she reportedly said to him.

Aubrey gave it a try and returned to professional sports with the USFL Birmingham Stallions in 2022. He impressed scouts enough in USFL to get a shot with the Dallas Cowboys, which signed him in July. He made his debut on opening day of the season on Sunday.

38-yard 🥾 for our guy @Brandon_Aubrey 👏 pic.twitter.com/FG80JSsVhM

— B2B CHAMPIONSTALLIONS 🏆🏆 (@USFLStallions) September 11, 2023

Soccer players kicking field goals isn’t anything new, of course. Former Union Academy prospect Joey Julius – who played for Jim Curtin when he coached a U17 team to the Generation adidas Cup title in 2012 – made a name for himself in college as the kicker for Penn State. Two of Philadelphia soccer legend Walt Bahr’s sons – Matt Bahr and Chris Bahr – are among a small fraternity Aubrey now belongs to of players to play both football and soccer professionally.