The 24-year-old kicked a huge field goal from 56 yards and had an onside kick successfully recovered, with the US commentator remarking, “what a day Charlie Smyth is having”
Mayobridge man Charlie Smyth became the first ever Northern Irish player to start an NFL game – and quickly became the first ever Northern Irish player to score in the NFL.
Former GAA star Charlie Smyth was this week called up by the New Orleans Saints and he got his big break in the lucrative American Football pro league against the Miami Dolphins.
While the Saints lost 21-17 in the end, Smyth certainly kept his end of the bargain.
The 24-year-old kicked a huge field goal from 56 yards and had an onside kick successfully recovered, with the US commentator remarking, “what a day Charlie Smyth is having”.
Onside kicks are rare in NFL, due to the average success rate of 4.7%. But Smyth is at 100% after pulling it off in his first game in his first attempt – with the help of wide receiver Devaughn Vale.
In anticipation of his big break, Smyth’s parents had travelled over from Co Down to be present at Miami Gardens. On the back of this display, Smyth looks certain to retain his place with the Saints.
That will be great news for the publicans of Mayobridge on this evidence, as videos of his successful kick sparked scenes of wild celebrations in his home town.
Smyth came to the Saints in 2024 as part of the NFL’s International Pathways Program. He replaced New Orleans regular kicker Blake Grupe, who was cut on Tuesday after his two missed field goal attempts last Sunday raised his total of misses to eight.
Saints special teams coordinator Phil Galiano said Smyth’s improvement in kicking an NFL ball since his arrival is akin to “the difference between red and blue.”
“Never doing it in high school and never doing it in college is really a big deal,” Galiano said.
Smyth hit all four attempts this past summer in pre-season games, including two from 50-plus yards. The Saints then sent Smith to Dallas to work with a place-kicking specialist.
“We wanted to put a developmental plan together for Charlie … because we think he is a future NFL kicker,” Galiano said.
Last week, former Derry underage GAA star Jude McAtamney was released from the New York Giants practice squad with his place taken by German tight end Maximilian Mang.
The Swatragh man returned to the Giants’ practice squad after missing two extra points in the 33-32 defeat by the Denver Broncos
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