Charlie Smyth
Irish player of American football (born 2001)
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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.
Mayobridge, Newry, County Down, Northern Ireland
Smyth with the New Orleans Saints in 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 39 – New Orleans Saints | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Position | Placekicker | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Roster status | Active | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 26 June 2001 Mayobridge, Newry, County Down, Northern Ireland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 210 lb (95 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Career statistics as of 2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Other information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gaelic games career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Gaelic Football | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Goalkeeper | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Gaelic football career
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
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
Personal life
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]