Brandon Aubrey had the opportunity to tie the NFL record for the longest field goal, but a costly error by the Dallas Cowboys coaching staff snatched it away. The Cowboys kicker drilled a 66-yard field goal at the end of the first half against the Cleveland Browns, a kick that could have tied Justin Tucker’s 2021 record. However, the play was blown dead by officials due to a delay of game penalty on Dallas, negating Aubrey’s impressive kick.
As Aubrey was already in the motion of kicking, the referees intervened and flagged the Cowboys for the clock mismanagement. The penalty nullified what would have been a historic moment and denied Dallas the chance to extend their lead to 23-3 going into halftime. To make matters worse, Dallas still had two timeouts remaining, making the failure to call one and avoid the delay of game even more baffling.
Despite the penalty, Aubrey’s kick from the Browns’ 48-yard line sailed through the uprights, showcasing the kicker’s remarkable leg strength. Throughout the game, Aubrey had already nailed field goals from 57, 50, 46, and 40 yards, solidifying his reliability and impressive range.
Wow 😩
Brandon Aubrey would have tied the NFL record for longest FG with this attempt… But there was a delay of game penalty.
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/DpDiVfcRkz
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 8, 2024
After the penalty, the Cowboys were pushed back five yards, making a 71-yard field goal attempt a long shot even for Aubrey. Initially, head coach Mike McCarthy briefly considered allowing Aubrey to attempt the monumental kick, but ultimately chose to send quarterback Dak Prescott back onto the field for a Hail Mary attempt to close out the half.
From the Fox broadcast booth, NFL legend Tom Brady expressed his disbelief at the sequence of events. “He had it. I saw the clock running down, I don’t know why they didn’t call a timeout,” Brady said, echoing the confusion of many fans.
Former NFL punter and media personality Pat McAfee also voiced his frustration on social media, posting on X: “Brandon Aubrey robbed of that 66-yarder is a real travesty… I’m so bummed out for him. This dude is phenomenal.”
Aubrey’s missed opportunity for NFL history came after an already impressive first half. Earlier, he easily nailed a 57-yard field goal with just over two minutes left in the second quarter, further demonstrating his potential as one of the league’s top kickers.
While the Cowboys went on to secure the win, the missed chance for Aubrey to tie a league record remains a talking point. It’s a moment that could have defined his career, but instead, a coaching oversight left the team and fans wondering what could have been.
