Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy explains decision to go with Brett Maher at kicker

The Dallas Cowboys surprised a lot of fans Tuesday when they cut Lirim Hajrullahu, leaving Brett Maher as the only kicker on the roster. Hajrullahu and Maher had previously been in a battle for the starting job, but coach Mike McCarthy had apparently seen enough through two preseason games to make his decision.

In a press conference Tuesday, McCarthy explained why he chose Maher over Hajrullahu.

“Mike McCarthy said the Cowboys are going with Brett Maher at kicker because of his leg strength and the confidence he’s been kicking with lately,” The Athletic’s Jon Machota tweeted.

Maher is a proven kicker who played his college football for Nebraska. He has played for eight different NFL teams so far as a practice squad or offseason kicker.

Brett Maher previously kicked for the Cowboys in 2018 and 2019 after the Dan Bailey era. He even made the four longest field goals in franchise history. However, during his tenure in Dallas, he missed eight field goals between 40-49 yards. Overall, he went 49-of-66 (74.2%) on his field goals and 68-of-69 on his extra point attempts while with the team.

In 2021, Maher kicked for the New Orleans Saints with the best percentage of his career. He made 16 of 18 field goals, including 4-4 between 40-49 yards. So far this preseason, Maher has appeared in two games to go 3-of-3 on extra points while missing his only field goal attempt.

Maher is poised to take over for Greg Zurlein, who spent the past two seasons as Dallas’ starting kicker. This past year, Zurlein finished 29-for-35 on his field goal attempts with a long of 56 yards. He was cut from the Cowboys in March before landing with the New York Jets.

Dallas has one more preseason contest remaining Friday against Seattle before it kicks off the season Sept. 11 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.