Notre Dame in the NFL: Brandon Aubrey sets another record

An ex-Notre Dame athlete is one of the wildest stories of the 2023 NFL season. And he never even put on a gold helmet.

Rookie Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey, who played soccer at Notre Dame, is 30-for-30 on field goals this season. That’s an NFL record for most consecutive made field goals to start a career, and he set another record in the Cowboys’ win over the Eagles this past Sunday. Aubrey made a 59-yard field goal and a 60-yard field goal in the same game.

He is the first player in NFL history to make two field goals of 59 yards or more in the same game. Bear in mind that Aubrey was a software engineer after a brief (and by his own admission, unsuccessful) Major League Soccer career before his wife suggested he could give the other football a try.

Aubrey is now 7-for-7 on field goals of 50 yards or more this season, and the Cowboys now hold first place in the NFC East after beating the Eagles on Sunday. Dallas is tied with Philadelphia at 10-3, and the Cowboys own the tiebreaker by virtue of a better record in division play. Aubrey’s dream season should continue well into January.

Here’s how every other former Notre Dame player in the NFL did in Week 14.

Aaron Banks (2017-20), OL, San Francisco 49ers

Result: 28-16 win over Seahawks

Pro Football Focus gave Banks a 39.2 overall mark and a 26.9 pass-blocking grade.

Miles Boykin (2015-18), WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

Result: 21-18 loss to Patriots

Boykin played eight snaps was not targeted.

Chase Claypool (2016-19), WR, Miami Dolphins

Result: 28-27 loss to Titans

Claypool dressed but did not play.

Liam Eichenberg, (2016-20), OL, Miami Dolphins

Result: 28-27 loss to Titans

Eichenberg allowed 2 pressures and finished with a 51.4 PFF grade.

Isaiah Foskey (2019-22), DE, New Orleans Saints

Result: 28-6 win over Panthers

Foskey played for the first time since Week 8. He made one tackle.

Alohi Gilman (2017-19), S, Los Angeles Chargers 

Result: 24-7 loss to Broncos

Gilman made 8 tackles, including 1 for loss.

Blake Grupe (2022), K, New Orleans Saints

Result: 28-6 win over Panthers

Grupe attempted a 29-yard field goal this week, which… he missed. He did make all four of his extra points.

Robert Hainsey (2017-20), OL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Result: 29-25 win over Falcons

Hainsey did not allow a pressure, finishing with a 70.0 pass-blocking grade.

Kyle Hamilton (2019-2021), S, Baltimore Ravens

Result: 37-31 OT win over Rams

Hamilton made 7 tackles, including 1 for loss. Three of his tackles were defensive stops.

Kurt Hinish (2017-21), DT, Houston Texans

Result: 30-6 loss to Jets

Hinish did not make the stat sheet, despite playing 24 snaps.

J.J. Jansen (2004-07), LS, Carolina Panthers

Result: 28-6 loss to Saints

Jansen snapped successfully 5 times, 3 on kicks and 2 on punts. He also made a tackle.

Cole Kmet (2017-19), TE, Chicago Bears

Result: 28-13 win over Lions

Kmet caught 5 of his 6 targets for 66 yards, finishing with a season-high 13.2 yards per reception.

Julian Love (2016-18), DB, Seattle Seahawks

Result: 28-16 loss to 49ers

Love had a great week. He intercepted 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, and he also forced a fumble and defended a pass. He finished with seven tackles as well.

Zack Martin (2009-13), OL, Dallas Cowboys

Result: 33-13 win over Eagles

Martin allowed a sack and another pressure, but he earned an 82.5 pass-blocking grade.

Michael Mayer (2020-22), TE, Las Vegas Raiders

Result: 3-0 loss to Vikings

Mayer caught one of his two targets for 14 yards.

Nick McCloud (2020), CB, New York Giants

Result: 24-22 win over Packers

McCloud did not play on defense, but he picked up 22 special-teams snaps. He is No. 4 in the NFC in Pro-Bowl voting as a special teamer.

Mike McGlinchey (2013-17), OL, Denver Broncos

Result: 24-7 win over Chargers

McGlinchey allowed one pressure and finished with an 80.6 pass-blocking grade.

Sam Mustipher (2014-18), OL, Baltimore Ravens

Result: 37-31 OT win over Rams

Mustipher was a healthy scratch this week.

Quenton Nelson (2014-17), OL, Indianapolis Colts

Result: 34-14 loss to Bengals

Nelson did not allow a pressure and earned a 79.0 pass-blocking grade.

Julian Okwara (2016-19), EDGE, Detroit Lions

Result: 28-13 loss to Bears

Okwara played 17 snaps and picked up 2 pressures.

Romeo Okwara (2012-15), DL, Detroit Lions 

Result: 28-13 loss to Bears

Okwara played 8 snaps and tallied 1 pressure.

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (2017-20), LB, Cleveland Browns 

Result: 31-27 win over Jaguars

Owusu-Koramoah made 8 tackles, including 2 tackles for loss.

Ben Skowronek (2020), WR, Los Angeles Rams

Result: 37-31 OT loss to Ravens

Skowronek was not targeted.

Harrison Smith (2007-11), S, Minnesota Vikings

Result: 3-0 win over Raiders

Smith made 2 tackles.

Durham Smythe (2013-17), TE, Miami Dolphins

Result: 28-27 loss to Titans

Smythe caught 2 of his 3 targets for 16 yards.

Ronnie Stanley (2012-15), OL, Baltimore Ravens

Result: 37-31 OT win over Rams

More pass-blocking prowess for the Irish: Stanley’s PFF grade in that area was 86.4, his highest of the season so far.

Equaniemeous St. Brown (2015-17), WR, Chicago Bears

Result: 28-13 win over Lions

St. Brown is week-to-week with a pectoral injury. He did not play against the Lions.

Jerry Tillery (2015-18), DL, Las Vegas Raiders 

Result: 3-0 loss to Vikings

Tillery made 2 tackles.

Drue Tranquill (2014-18), LB, Kansas City Chiefs 

Result: 20-17 loss to Bills

Tranquill missed Week 14 with a concussion. He’s out of concussion protocol now, though, and he practiced Wednesday.

Tommy Tremble (2018-20), TE, Carolina Panthers 

Result: 28-6 loss to Saints

Tremble caught 1 of his 3 targets for 2 yards.

Kyren Williams (2019-21), RB, Los Angeles Rams

Result: 37-31 OT loss to Ravens

Williams carried 25 times for 114 yards, averaging 4.6 yards per attempt. It was his third 100-yard game this season.

Brock Wright (2017-20), TE, Detroit Lions

Result: 28-13 loss to Bears

Wright caught both his targets for 6 yards.

Former Notre Dame players on injured reserve

• Falcons EDGE Ade Ogundeji (foot/ankle)
• Lions LS Scott Daly (knee)
• Texans C Jarrett Patterson (ankle)
• Commanders LB Drew White (knee)