By:
Graeme Hanna
New Orleans Saints’ kicker Charlie Smyth was elated to make his full NFL debut on Sunday in the 21-17 defeat by the Miami Dolphins.
The Irishman was “absolutely buzzing” as he announced his arrival to the game with a stunning 56-yard field goal to record his first points in the NFL in the fourth quarter of the game at Hard Rock Stadium.
Charlie Smyth’s breakthrough moment was witnessed by his parents, who made a late dash all the way from Mayobridge to the home of the Miami Dolphins in Florida.
They only found out on Friday afternoon that Charlie had been selected for duty, having been added to the active roster last week.
“It was awesome to see them. I think they travelled for 23 hours because they flew to Chicago and the flight got delayed because of snow and then they flew down into Miami,” said Smyth after the game.
Smyth was able to realise his NFL dream after Blake Grupe spurned two field goal opportunities in the defeat by the Atlanta Falcons last week.
https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1995231605926027637
Who is Charlie Smyth, the New Orleans Saints kicker?
Charlie Smyth hails from Mayobridge in County Down.
He made his way to the New Orleans Saints, having come through the NFL’s international player pathway programme, which led to a spot on the team’s practice squad.
His progress secured a contract with the Saints in March 2024, having impressed in the NFL Combine and last summer. He featured against the Jacksonville Jaguars in pre-season, scoring two field goals in a 17-17 tie.
Smyth is a former Down GAA goalkeeper who dedicated himself to an American football breakthrough, having developed a passion for the game as a teenager.
He attended NFL kicking workouts in Ireland, while also making a forlorn attempt to introduce himself with an email to [email protected] to pitch his GAA kicking skills as an NFL kicker.
No one responded then, but Smyth is getting all the recognition now.
Until recently, Charlie Smyth was one of two Irishmen plying their trade in the NFL, but last week, the New York Giants axed Jude McAtamney.
The former Derry GAA star is determined to find a way back into the league, but for now, all Irish eyes are on Charlie Smyth.
Saints’ head coach Kellen Moore was impressed with his debut performance.
“Charlie, I thought, kicked really well. Big-time field goal. The onside kick obviously was really well-kicked. Phenomenal kick there and put us in a position to have a chance at the end,” Moore said.
As for the man himself, Smyth has vowed that he’s just getting started.
“It took a long time and it obviously means ‘I feel ready, I feel ready.’ But the coaches, they know what they’re doing. They’re really, really good,” stressed the Down native.
“Obviously, we didn’t envision it being like this because Blake (Grupe) has been so good and I have learned so much from him. Tuesday was strange emotions because you saw your opportunity potentially coming up, but then seeing him out was tough because we’re friends.
Smyth added, “At the end of the day, you get your head right and I was buzzing and then on Thursday, it was kind of a big day and I kicked really well. I was just excited to get the opportunity and to be honest, I’m kind of hiding it a little bit, I was absolutely buzzing.”
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