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FRISCO, Texas – With the 2025 regular season now behind the Cowboys, it's time to look ahead to 2026, where they'll try to get back into the playoffs for the first time since 2023.
As they begin to do so, our "What's Next" series will examine each position on the roster and look at the past, present and future of the room and the players within it.
We'll conclude the series with special teams:
Past:
The Cowboys made a change in leadership at special teams before last season as Brian Schottenheimer took over as head coach. The Cowboys parted ways with veteran coach John Fassel and handed the keys to Nick Sorensen, who inherited an accomplished group of special teams, including Pro Bowlers Brandon Aubrey, Bryan Anger and KaVontae Turpin, along with established vets in snapper Trent Sieg and special teams ace C.J. Goodwin.
While the 2025 season wasn't a bad one from the special teams standpoint – as Aubrey and Turpin both made the Pro Bowl and were second-team All-Pro this season. But although Turpin set franchise records in kickoff returns and yards, it was more of a reflection of the defense that allowed over 30 points per game. The Cowboys had just 82 punt return yards, the fewest for a single season in 63 years. All in all, there were standpoint performances by Aubrey, but not the best we've seen from the overall kicking game.
Present:
From a personnel standpoint, not much is expected to change for special teams in 2026. Sorensen will return as the coordinator and key pieces such as Anger, Sieg and Turpin are all under contract. Technically, Aubrey is a restricted free agent as well but it sounds like the core unit of kickers, snappers and returners will be back. However, that doesn't mean improvement isn't needed and expected.
Cowboys chief operating officer Stephen Jones discussed his thoughts on the kicking game just last week when asked at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. ""We certainly want to be better there," Jones said. "We've got some good pieces with our returner, our punter, our kicker and our snapper. But usually when you get some good defensive players, those turn into pretty good special teams players too."
Future:
The big question regarding special teams usually revolves around the kicker and for the Cowboys in 2026, it's no exception. It doesn't sound like there is extreme doubt that Aubrey will return, but under what terms? He's a restricted free agent, meaning the Cowboys have the option to place one of three different tender offers on him if a long-term contract hasn't been reached by the start of free agency on March 11. It's unlikely the Cowboys would give the first-round tender (nearly $8 million in 2026) for Aubrey. But a second-round tender ($5.6 million) makes more sense.
If Aubrey were to sign an offer sheet with another club, the Cowboys have the right to match the deal. If they choose to let him go, they would receive a second-round pick from that team. It must be pointed out that no team in NFL history has ever given up a second-round pick to a restricted free agent. And those are the two that make sense because the third tender – a right of first-refusal tender, is worth just $3.4 million but the Cowboys would get no compensation if they didn't retain Aubrey and match another deal. The Cowboys usually try to avoid restricted free agency all together and sign the player to a deal before that. This week at the Pro Bowl, Aubrey refenced the early-start of the negotiations and reiterated his stance on wanting to remain in Dallas.
