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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 24)
Mayobridge, Newry, County Down, Northern Ireland
Height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight210 lb (95 kg)
Career history
Career statistics as of Week 17, 2025
Field goals made11
Field goals attempted14
Field goal %78.6%
Extra points made11
Extra points attempted11
Extra point %100%
Points44
Longest field goal57
Touchbacks15
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] 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.[2] 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.[3]

In 2021, Smyth was the goalkeeper on the Down winning team to lift the Ulster Under-20 title, their first since 2009.[4][5] He was one of three players from Down who received honours in the EirGrid All-Ireland Under-20 football awards that year.[6]

In 2023, he made his debut on the Down county football team and was a Tailteann Cup runner-up with Down.[7][8]

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.[9] He participated in the NFL Scouting Combine where he connected on 12 of 16 field goal attempts.[10] At his pro-day, he made 8 of 10 field goals, including one from 60 yards.[10] 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.[11][12][13] 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.[14] He was waived on 27 August, and re-signed to the practice squad.[15][16]

Smyth signed a reserve/future contract with the Saints on 6 January 2025.[17] On 26 August, Smyth was waived by the Saints as part of final roster cuts[18] and re-signed to the practice squad the next day.[19] On 29 November, Smyth was elevated from the practice squad to the active roster for the first time.[20] 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.[21] 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.[22] Smyth was signed to the active roster on December 19 on a three-year contract.[23][24]

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 NOLA 4 9 11 81.8% 0 56 7 7 100% 22 58.1 10 34
Career 4 9 11 81.8% 0 56 7 7 100% 22 58.1 10 34
As of game played 21 December 2025

Personal life

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Smyth is a native of Mayobridge, Newry.[25] He attended St Colman's College.[26] Smyth studied at St Mary's University College, where he was completing a master's degree in physical education.[2][27] 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.[28][29]

References

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  1. ^ "Gaelic football".
  2. ^ a b "New Orleans Saints sign kicker Charlie Smyth". New Orleans Saints. 29 March 2024. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ Mooney, Francis (31 July 2021). "Down overcome Monaghan in Ulster U20 final on emotional night in Armagh". RTÉ News. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  5. ^ "Charlie Smyth says 'this is where the real work starts' after signing New Orleans Saints deal". BBC News. 2 April 2024.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ Lawlor, Damian (25 January 2024). "Irish trio of Gaelic footballers fly out to kick & chase their NFL dream". RTÉ News. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  10. ^ a b "Five Things to Know about Saints kicker Charlie Smyth". www.neworleanssaints.com. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ "Charlie Smyth: Gaelic footballer gets NFL deal with New Orleans Saints". BBC News. 29 March 2024. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  14. ^ DeShazier, John (1 April 2024). "Kicker Charlie Smyth received NFL reply he sought from New Orleans Saints". New Orleans Saints. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  15. ^ "New Orleans Saints announce roster moves". NewOrleansSaints.com. 27 August 2024.
  16. ^ "New Orleans Saints announce roster moves". NewOrleansSaints.com. 28 August 2024.
  17. ^ "New Orleans Saints announce roster moves". NewOrleansSaints.com. 6 January 2025.
  18. ^ "New Orleans Saints announce roster moves". neworleanssaints.com. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
  19. ^ Casey, Gavan (27 August 2025). "NFL dream continues for Irish kickers Smyth, McAtamney and McNamee". The 42. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
  20. ^ "New Orleans Saints Transactions 2025-26". CBS Sports. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
  21. ^ "Saints vs. Dolphins (Nov 30, 2025) Play-by-Play". ESPN. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
  22. ^ McQuaid, Michael. "'Dream scenario' - Charlie Smyth revels in game-winning heroics for New Orleans Saints". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 16 December 2025.
  23. ^ "Saints announce roster moves". NewOrleansSaints.com. 19 December 2025.
  24. ^ Simmons, Myles (20 December 2025). "Report: K Charlie Smyth, Saints agree to three-year contract". Pro Football Talk. NBC Sports.
  25. ^ Johns, Nathan (28 March 2024). "Down goalkeeper Charlie Smyth signs with New Orleans Saints". The Irish Times. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  26. ^ 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.
  27. ^ 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.
  28. ^ "Charlie Smyth: GAA goalkeeper ready to show he can be NFL starting kicker for New Orleans Saints". Sky Sports. 2 April 2024.
  29. ^ 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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