Aubrey returned to his alma mater to honor the coach and school that helped shape his early years \n<\/p>\n
Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey returned to Plano Senior High School to recognize one of the educators who helped shape his early years, surprising Wildcats boys soccer coach Tex McCullough with a special award and a $5,000 school grant.<\/p>\n
Aubrey, a 2013 Plano Senior High graduate, joined Reliant Energy to name McCullough the first Class Acts honoree of the 2026-27 school year. The program recognizes outstanding educators across North Texas.<\/p>\n
During the visit, Aubrey presented McCullough with a Cowboys jersey and game ball, along with the grant from Reliant. He also toured the school’s recently renovated athletic facilities, returning to the campus where he developed his skills as a competitive soccer player.<\/p>\n
From Plano Wildcat To Cowboys Kicker<\/p>\n
Before making a name for himself in the NFL, Aubrey<\/a> was known at Plano Senior High for his soccer talent. He went on to play four years at the University of Notre Dame while earning a degree in computer science.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s where I found myself falling in love with computer science, which is what I ended up studying in college, and was able to pursue a really high level of competition in soccer,\u201d Aubrey previously told<\/a> Local Profile.<\/p>\n At the time, soccer was his primary focus. Although he had participated in other sports, including football, Aubrey committed to pursuing a professional soccer career while still in middle school.<\/p>\n \u201cMy goal, like every kid that makes that choice, was to make it to the professional level,\u201d he said. \u201cThat was my goal, without any sort of side quests or anything like that.\u201d<\/p>\n After college, Aubrey was selected in the first round of the MLS SuperDraft by Toronto FC. He spent two years playing in the league’s lower division before deciding to step away from professional soccer.<\/p>\n \u201cI had the opportunity to sign with another team in that league but wasn\u2019t making enough money for me to support a family,\u201d Aubrey says.<\/p>\n Recently married, he turned to his backup plan and began working as a software engineer. The transition away from the sport he had pursued for years was difficult, and Aubrey recalled feeling like he was \u201cnot quite my normal self\u201d for several months.<\/p>\n His next opportunity came from an unlikely source. While watching football at home with his wife, they saw a kicker attempt a field goal, and she suggested he try it himself.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were watching football like we always do, and we saw a kicker kick a field goal\u2026and she said, \u2018I think you could do that.\u2019\u201d Aubrey said.<\/p>\n He wasn’t immediately sold on the idea. But after heading to a local football field to test his kicking ability, he began training for a new career in the sport he had once set aside. On July 6, 2023, Aubrey signed with the Cowboys<\/a> and competed for the team’s starting kicker position, beginning a new chapter in professional athletics.<\/p>\n