Dallas Cowboys waive former CFL kicker Lirim Hajrullahu

Photo courtesy: Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys have waived Canadian kicker Lirim Hajrullahu, paving the way for fellow former CFL kicker Brett Maher to become the team’s kicker for the 2022 season.

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) alongn with all of his point-after attempts.

The Western University product played six CFL seasons before making the jump south of the border, spending time with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Toronto Argonauts, and Hamilton Tiger-Cats after going unselected in the 2014 CFL Draft. He was twice named an East Division all-star and won a Grey Cup in 2017 with the Argos.

Hajrullahu played in all 18 regular-season games with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2019, converting 47-of-55 field goal attempts (85.5 percent) and 26-of-28 single convert attempts (92.8 percent), while averaging 43.1 yards per punt on 106 attempts. He tied for first in the CFL in field goals made (47), third in scoring (162 points), and sixth in field goal percentage.

The Cowboys signed Maher earlier this month to compete with the former Grey Cup champion for the team’s vacant kicking job after the Cowboys released incumbent kicker Greg Zuerlein in March.

Maher spent four seasons in the CFL as a member of the Ottawa Redblacks (2014-2015, 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.

With Hajrullahu now out, it looks like Maher will be kicking for America’s Team once again.