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Charlie Smyth

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Charlie Smyth
Smyth with the New Orleans Saints in 2025
No. 39 – New Orleans Saints
PositionPlacekicker
Roster statusActive
Personal information
Born (2001-06-26) 26 June 2001 (age 25)
Mayobridge, Northern Ireland
Listed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight210 lb (95 kg)
Career history
Career statistics as of 2026
Field goals made12
Field goals attempted16
Field goal %75%
Extra points made13
Extra points attempted13
Extra point %100%
Points49
Longest field goal57
Touchbacks16
Stats at Pro Football Reference
Other information
Gaelic games career
SportGaelic Football
PositionGoalkeeper
Club
Years Club
2005–2024
 Mayobridge
Inter-county
Years County
2023–2024
 Down

Charlie Smyth (born 26 June 2001) is an Irish[1][2] professional American football placekicker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He has previously played Gaelic football as a goalkeeper at senior level for the Down county team, before joining the NFL's International Player Pathway Program (IPPP) in 2024.

Gaelic football career

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Smyth began playing Gaelic football when he was four years old.[3] He first came to prominence as the goalkeeper for Down's Ulster Under-20 Championship winning team in 2020, scoring in every game of the campaign that ended at the All-Ireland semi-final stage.[4]

In 2021, Smyth was the goalkeeper on the Down winning team to lift the Ulster Under-20 title, their first since 2009.[5][6] He was one of three players from Down who received honours in the EirGrid All-Ireland Under-20 football awards that year.[7]

In 2023, he made his debut on the Down county football team and was a Tailteann Cup runner-up with Down.[8][9]

American football career

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In January 2024, Smyth began training to play in the National Football League (NFL) via the National Football League's International Player Pathway Program.[10] He participated in the NFL Scouting Combine where he connected on 12 of 16 field goal attempts.[11] At his pro-day, he made 8 of 10 field goals, including one from 60 yards.[11] On 29 March 2024, he signed a three-year contract with the New Orleans Saints, becoming the first GAA player to sign an NFL contract.[12][13][14] Smyth had sent an email to the NFL in July 2019 asking for a tryout hoping to see if his Gaelic football skills could transfer to the NFL.[15] He was waived on 27 August, and re-signed to the practice squad.[16][17]

Smyth signed a reserve/future contract with the Saints on 6 January 2025.[18] On 26 August, Smyth was waived by the Saints as part of final roster cuts[19] and re-signed to the practice squad the next day.[20] On 29 November, Smyth was elevated from the practice squad to the active roster for the first time.[21] The next day, Smyth made his NFL debut against the Miami Dolphins, in which he made a 56-yard field goal and successfully converted an onside kick.[22] On 14 December, he made a 47-yard winning field goal with six seconds left to help the Saints to victory over the Carolina Panthers.[23] Smyth was signed to the active roster on December 19 on a three-year contract.[24][25]

NFL statistics

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Regular season

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General Field goals PATs Kickoffs Points
Season Team GP FGM FGA FG% Blck Long XPM XPA XP% KO Avg TBs Pts
2025 NO 6121675%0571313100%3358.11649
Career6121675%0571313100%3358.11649

Personal life

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Smyth is a native of Mayobridge, Newry.[26] He attended St Colman's College.[27] Smyth studied at St Mary's University College, where he was completing a master's degree in physical education.[3][28] Prior to that, Smyth had trained as a primary school teacher with Irish language and was ready to teach while also playing GAA with his club Mayobridge.[29][30]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ Boyle, Donnchadh (12 August 2024). "'My family and friends were still up at 5.30am' – Charlie Smyth on his breakthrough NFL moment with New Orleans". Irish Independent. Retrieved 4 March 2026. And honestly I'm so proud to be Irish and be part of this team, it's unbelievable.
  2. ↑ Tierney, Paddy (16 January 2025). "Charlie Smyth opens up on Irish identity, social media abuse, salary potential and goals for next season with the New Orleans Saints". Belfast Live. Retrieved 4 March 2026. I just try to make sure that people know me as Irish. And I don't want to be categorised as something else... if you ask me where I'm from, I say Ireland. What's your nationality? I'll say I'm Irish. You don't want to get sucked into the other categories.
  3. 1 2 "New Orleans Saints sign kicker Charlie Smyth". www.neworleanssaints.com. 29 March 2024. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  4. ↑ Watters, Andy (8 March 2024). ""I really felt like I belonged there..." Charlie Smyth hoping for NFL call after impressing at Combine". The Irish News. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  5. ↑ Mooney, Francis (31 July 2021). "Down overcome Monaghan in Ulster U20 final on emotional night in Armagh". RTÉ News. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  6. ↑ "Charlie Smyth says 'this is where the real work starts' after signing New Orleans Saints deal". BBC News. 2 April 2024.
  7. ↑ O'Toole, Fintan (1 September 2021). "All-Ireland champions Offaly lead the way as 8 counties honoured in U20 football awards". The42.ie. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  8. ↑ McQuaid, Michael (18 January 2024). "Down GAA star Charlie Smyth taking inspiration from Green Bay Packers punter as NFL dream moves closer". Belfast Live. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  9. ↑ Watters, Andy (15 December 2023). "Down goalkeeper Charlie Smyth to join Rory Beggan and Mark Jackson at American Football trials". The Irish News. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  10. ↑ Lawlor, Damian (25 January 2024). "Irish trio of Gaelic footballers fly out to kick & chase their NFL dream". RTÉ News. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  11. 1 2 "Five Things to Know about Saints kicker Charlie Smyth". www.neworleanssaints.com. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  12. ↑ Brennan, Shane (29 March 2024). "Down GAA goalkeeper Charlie Smyth becomes NFL player with three-year New Orleans Saints deal". Irish Independent. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  13. ↑ Lawlor, Damian (29 March 2024). "Down's Charlie Smyth joins the New Orleans Saints on a three-year contract". RTÉ News. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  14. ↑ "Charlie Smyth: Gaelic footballer gets NFL deal with New Orleans Saints". BBC News. 29 March 2024. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  15. ↑ DeShazier, John (1 April 2024). "Kicker Charlie Smyth received NFL reply he sought from New Orleans Saints". www.neworleanssaints.com. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  16. ↑ "New Orleans Saints announce roster moves". www.neworleanssaints.com. 27 August 2024.
  17. ↑ "New Orleans Saints announce roster moves". www.neworleanssaints.com. 28 August 2024.
  18. ↑ "New Orleans Saints announce roster moves". www.neworleanssaints.com. 6 January 2025.
  19. ↑ "New Orleans Saints announce roster moves". neworleanssaints.com. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
  20. ↑ Casey, Gavan (27 August 2025). "NFL dream continues for Irish kickers Smyth, McAtamney and McNamee". The 42. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
  21. ↑ "New Orleans Saints Transactions 2025-26". CBS Sports. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
  22. ↑ "Saints vs. Dolphins (Nov 30, 2025) Play-by-Play". ESPN. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
  23. ↑ McQuaid, Michael (15 December 2025). "'Dream scenario' - Charlie Smyth revels in game-winning heroics for New Orleans Saints". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  24. ↑ "Saints announce roster moves". www.neworleanssaints.com. 19 December 2025.
  25. ↑ Simmons, Myles (20 December 2025). "Report: K Charlie Smyth, Saints agree to three-year contract". Pro Football Talk. NBC Sports.
  26. ↑ Johns, Nathan (28 March 2024). "Down goalkeeper Charlie Smyth signs with New Orleans Saints". The Irish Times. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  27. ↑ Watters, Andy (1 February 2024). ""The biggest opportunity I'll ever get..." Down goalie Charlie Smyth chasing American Football dream". The Irish News. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  28. ↑ Costello, Lee (30 March 2024). "Everything you need to know about Charlie Smyth, the GAA player turned NFL star". SportsJOE.ie. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  29. ↑ "Charlie Smyth: GAA goalkeeper ready to show he can be NFL starting kicker for New Orleans Saints". Sky Sports. 2 April 2024.
  30. ↑ Boyle, Donnchadh (2 April 2024). "'I thought I would be teaching, then playing Gaelic football' – Charlie Smyth on 'surreal' feeling of his NFL deal". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
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