The Dallas Cowboys have signed a player that is already familiar to the club as well as fans of the CFL.
Brett Maher has joined the team’s training camp following a successful tryout according to multiple reports, seeing him return to the organization with which he played for two years (2018-19). He made 49-of-66 field goal attempts (74.2 percent) with a long of 63 yards over that timespan before being waived in August 2020.
The 32-year-old will now compete with former CFL kicker Lirim Hajrullahu for the team’s kicking job ahead of the preseason. Hajrullahu was winning the competition for the job against Jonathan Garibay, though the undrafted rookie out of Texas Tech was released on Tuesday.
Maher spent four seasons in the CFL as a member of the Ottawa Redblacks (2014-15, 2017) and Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2016), connecting on 107-of-137 field goal attempts (78.1 percent) and punting 368 times with an average of 45.8 yards. He has since been a member of the Cowboys, Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, Washington Commanders, Houston Texans, Arizona Cardinals, and New Orleans Saints.
Hajrullahu signed with Dallas this summer after spending three separate stints with the team last season. He dressed for one game in November 2021 when veteran kicker Greg Zuerlein tested positive for the coronavirus and made all five of his point-after attempts. He finished the season with the Carolina Panthers and made four-of-five field goal attempts (80 percent) with all of his point-after attempts.
Dallas opens the preseason on Saturday, August 13 against the Denver Broncos. The Cowboys will visit the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday, August 20 and host the Seattle Seahawks on Friday, August 26.
Maher and Hajrullahu are the only two kickers in training camp. May the best former CFL player win.
