A wild idea from the UFL, four points for a 60-yard field goal, is stirring up serious talk in the NFL, and the guy who would benefit most, Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey, sounds seriously conflicted about it. The UFL season saw these monster kicks rewarded with an extra point, driving up attempts from long range. Even though there is no official proposal on the table, ESPN’s Michael DiRocco has been polling league figures, and Aubrey’s reaction is a huge standout.
Brandon Aubrey: “Nightmare for Playcallers”
Aubrey, the NFL’s all-time leader with six 60-yard field goals (half of those coming last season alone), isn’t exactly jumping for joy. “I think it’s a little weird,” he said, clearly wrestling with the concept. He pointed out how it “incentivizes you to stall the drive in a certain spot” and forces teams to “really, really question your playcalling around that 50-yard line area.” He sees the value for kickers with massive legs, but also feels it “perverses the incentives of football where the goal is to get it as close to the other person’s half as possible.” It’s clear he’s torn: “I’m conflicted on it. I like it for the kickers. I think it’s a nightmare for the playcallers.” You gotta respect that honesty, even from a guy who just inked a four-year, $28 million contract this offseason, making him the highest-paid kicker in NFL history.
Record-Breaking Legs and Rule Change Fatigue
Aubrey’s six 60-yard field goals are part of a massive trend. Last season alone saw 12 such kicks made by nine different kickers, nearly matching the 13 made in the three seasons before that. The collective improvement of NFL kickers was a huge story in 2025. Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Cam Little even broke an NFL record with a mind-boggling 68-yarder. Yet, even Little echoed Aubrey’s sentiment, telling ESPN, “It adds an element to the game that if you have a bigger leg, it helps you. But I don’t know. There’s been so many rule changes between the kickoff. I just think if we could keep some tradition to the game, I think that’s what makes the NFL really cool because we’ve kept a lot of the rules.” On the flip side, Washington Commanders kicker Jake Moody and Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates are all about it, as is Little’s head coach, Liam Coen.
The NFL isn’t new to importing ideas, having already grabbed revamped kickoff rules from the XFL, which saw increased returns and safer impacts. But four points for a 60-yard field goal? That would undeniably push teams to settle for field goals at midfield. As electric as legs like Aubrey’s and Little’s are, kickers aren’t usually the marquee players. This isn’t just about extra points, it’s about the very fabric of NFL strategy. Will the league prioritize spectacle, or keep the game’s core traditions intact? We’ll be watching closely to see if this UFL idea ever gets off the whiteboard.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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