Brett Maher Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Broncos sign kicker who had epic playoff meltdown

By Trevor Woods | Last updated 7/22/23

Kicker Brett Maher nailed 90.6% of his regular season field goals for the Dallas Cowboys last season, but the playoffs were a different story.

In the NFC Wild Card round versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Maher had one of the worst kicking performances ever. Maher missed four extra points in the game, an NFL record. Maher would then have an extra point blocked the following week in Dallas' loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round.

With Maher's late-season struggles the Cowboys opted to go in a different direction, which left Maher looking for a new opportunity. Well, just as training camp is set to begin across the league Maher has found a home.

On Friday night the Denver Broncos signed Maher.

Source confirms Broncos have reached 1-year agreement with kicker Brett Maher. He kicked for Sean Payton with Saints in 2021. Had great season with Cowboys last year until extra-point yips in playoffs. Had minicamp tryout with Broncos in mid-June. #9sports
— Mike Klis (@mikeklis) July 22, 2023

Maher had a tryout with Denver this summer and playing for head coach Sean Payton in New Orleans didn't hurt his chances either. Maher was 16-of-18 in 2021 with the Saints.

The signing of Maher comes two months after the Broncos cut long-time kicker Brandon McManus. Ironically enough, Maher and McManus have nearly identical career field goal percentages with Maher at 81.0 and McManus at 81.4.

It is said to be easier to kick a football at high altitudes. And Mile High Stadium in Denver is literally a mile up with an elevation of 5,280 feet. Perhaps Denver is the perfect destination for Maher to get his career back on track after a postseason where he became a punch-line and a proverbial punching bag.

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