Inside The Star
If there is one room in the building that needs a Do Not Disturb sign on its door, it is the special teams unit for the Dallas Cowboys.
Especially when it comes to the kicking game.
Brandon Aubrey continues to hit long bombs and even had a better success percentage in 2025 than he had in 2024. He even ran for a first down on a trick play.
Bryan Anger had another strong year as the team’s punter and holder.
Trent Sieg’s long-snapping is so flawless that one might suspect he’s a machine underneath the outer shell of skin.
KaVontae Turpin’s punt return numbers were down because the defense couldn’t get many stops. His kickoff return numbers went through the roof in 2025.
Unfortunately, for the very same reason that his punt return numbers were down.
And yet, he still made the Pro Bowl.
Aubrey hit all 25 field goals under 50 yards that he attempted in 2025. He was 11-of-17 from 50 and beyond.
That includes a 64-yarder that sent the first game against the Giants into overtime, where Aubrey hit the game winner.
He connected on 47 of his 48 extra point kicks and adjusted well to the new dynamic kickoff rules.
In three years, Aubrey is now 112-of-127 (88.2%) on field goals. He has only missed four of his 130 extra point attempts.
When Anger isn’t catching snaps from Sieg and placing the ball down for Aubrey to boot through the uprights, he’s catching snaps on punts.
He just completed his fifth season in Dallas, and is signed up for a sixth. It is the longest of his stays among four NFL teams since the 2012 season in Jacksonville.
In his five seasons in Dallas, he’s averaging 48.9 yards a punt, his best among his four stops.
In 2025, he averaged 48.6 yards.
Anger did not have a single touchback in 2025. But he did pin the opponent inside their own 20 on 14 different occasions.
When it comes to the kicking game, be it punting, field goals, or extra points, it all starts with Sieg. In his eighth year in the NFL, and third with Dallas, Sieg is a master at his craft.
His snaps to Anger, as holder or punter, are almost automatic.
That is a huge key to the success both Anger and Aubrey have been enjoying.
Sieg recorded one tackle this season, giving him 11 for his career. He got his first fumble recovery of his career in the 24-21 win over the Eagles.
The Cowboys have been trying to work Turpin in as a wide receiver, and in 2025 he took a few turns at running back.
Turpin’s greatest value to Dallas is as a kickoff and punt returner.
With Dallas now having a solid 1-2-3 punch at receiver with CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, and Ryan Flournoy, he needs to be focused on return duties....
