Charlie Smyth

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.

Charlie Smyth

No. 39 – New Orleans Saints
Position:	Placekicker
Personal information
Born:	(2001-06-26) 26 June 2001 (age 24) Mayobridge, Newry, County Down, Northern Ireland
Height:	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:	210 lb (95 kg)
Career history
New Orleans Saints (2024–present)*
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:	Active
Stats at Pro Football Reference
Other
Personal information Sport Gaelic Football Position Goalkeeper Club(s) Years Club ?–2024 Mayobridge Inter-county(ies) Years County 2023–2024 Down

Gaelic football career

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

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 August 27, and re-signed to the practice squad.^[15][16] Smyth signed a reserve/future contract with the Saints on January 6, 2025.^[17]

Personal life

Smyth is a native of Mayobridge, Newry.^[18] He attended St Colman's College.^[19] Smyth studied at St Mary's University College, where he was completing a master's degree in physical education.^[2][20] 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.^[21][22]