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Charlie Smyth (born 26 June 2001) is an Irish multi-sport athlete who plays as a 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.
| No. 39 – New Orleans Saints | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Position: | Placekicker | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born: | 26 June 2001 Mayobridge, Newry, County Down, Northern Ireland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 210 lb (95 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Roster status: | Practice squad/international | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stats at Pro Football Reference | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Smyth began playing Gaelic football when he was four years old.[1] 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.[2]
In 2021, Smyth was the goalkeeper on the Down winning team to lift the Ulster Under-20 title, their first since 2009.[3][4] He was one of three players from Down who received honours in the EirGrid All-Ireland Under-20 football awards that year.[5]
In 2023, he made his debut on the Down county football team and was a Tailteann Cup runner-up with Down.[6][7]
In January 2024, Smyth began training to play in the National Football League (NFL) via the National Football League's International Player Pathway Program.[8] He participated in the NFL Scouting Combine where he connected on 12 of 16 field goal attempts.[9] At his pro-day, he made 8 of 10 field goals, including one from 60 yards.[9] 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.[10][11][12] 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.[13] He was waived on August 27, and re-signed to the practice squad.[14][15]
Smyth is a native of Mayobridge, Newry.[16] He attended St Colman's College.[17] Smyth studied at St Mary's University College, where he was completing a master's degree in physical education.[1][18] 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.[19][20]
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