Cowboys specialty center survived regime change as consistency is key

Often times, a new STC means changes, but the Cowboys' group is so good, Trent Sieg was able to ink a new deal with a coach he'd never played for.

If a casual NFL fan knows the name of their team's long snapper, there's a problem. The position is supposed to be incognito. Run out on field goals, extra points and punts and deliver the ball in a way that allows the guy with the big leg to do his thing.

It's not an unskilled position, though. As anyone who has ever made the attempt to thrust a ball backwards through their legs knows, accuracy at long distances is not easy to accomplish. It takes a lot of practice, and from there the long snapper has to quickly get his head up and take on rushers who are thirsting for their moments of glory, to knife in and make the play of the game by blocking the attempt. So when teams find a good long snapper, they tend to stick with them, keeping them from the open market. That's what the Dallas Cowboys have done with Trent Sieg, who evened out a rocky period for the club to stabilize the position.

Rundown

Dec 9, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys long snapper Trent Sieg (44), punter Bryan Anger (5) and place kicker Brandon Aubrey (17) talk while on the field before a game against the Cincinnati Bengals at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images

Position: Long Snapper

Age: 30

Height: 6-foot-3

Weight: 240 pounds

Hometown: Eaton, CO

High School: Eaton

College: Colorado State (Film Study Video)

Draft: 2018 Undrafted Free Agent

Acquired: 2023 Street FA

Contract: Three-year contract (2025), $4.45 million

2025 Base Salary: $1.255 million, fully guaranteed

Career Earnings: $7.4 million (per Over The Cap)

Profile

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 09: A detailed view of the cleats of Trent Sieg #44 of the Dallas Cowboys are seen prior to the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at AT&T Stadium on December 09, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

The long snapper becomes an integral part in the careers of punters and kickers. Sieg got his first NFL game experience with the Raiders when they were still in Oakland. He helped then rookie AJ Cole set numerous franchise records for accuracy and points, and would probably still be there if special teams coordinators didn't play favorites and bring in their guys.

The Raiders loss has been the Cowboys' gain, as he's settled the position after LP Ladouceur's 16-year run ended in 2020. He survived the change in special teams coordinator this past offseason as Jim "Bones" Fassel left the club along with head coach Mike McCarthy, but import Nick Sorensen didn't bring in his own guys with him, at least not yet.

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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Dallas Cowboys player profile: No. 44 LS Trent Sieg

Category: Football