After five years, Charlie Smyth has the solution.
Smyth, then 17 years old, sent an email in 2019 expressing his desire to kick in the NFL. Since he wasn’t sure who to email it to, he clicked “send” after seeing inquiries@nfl.com.
The Newry, Ireland, native then awaited a response, but it took some time to arrive, even after he was tagged by NFL UK, which describes itself as the “NFL’s British Cousin.”
Smyth became the first Irish athlete to sign with an NFL team through the NFL’s International athlete Pathway program last Friday when the New Orleans Saints signed him to a three-year contract. Smyth’s talent and patience led to an answer that was as much a fantasy as a reality. The curriculum includes specialists for the first time in this year, 2024.
Smyth, who played goalkeeper for Down GAA’s U20 squad and grew up playing Gaelic football, stated, “I’ve always watched the Red Zone and the NFL growing up.” “As I was observing the kickers, I told myself that I could succeed. It’s only a matter of finding a place to start now. That’s my goal and the reason I’m here.
Smyth developed his abilities kicking the ball straight off the field and compared Gaelic football to a combination of rugby and soccer.
“It’s absurd that you can write an email while in Ireland because there isn’t really a clear path to the NFL outside of attending college. If you’re in Ireland, how do you even begin the college application process, you understand? The journey from sending that email to finding myself in this predicament is quite bizarre.”
Blake Grupe, the starting kicker for New Orleans, is about to start his second season after converting 30 of his 37 field goals as a rookie, including a 55-yarder.
And Smyth, who kicked an American football for the first time on August 22, 2023, is aware of the amount of work required to kick for the Saints or any other team in the NFL. However, he claimed to be at ease with a range of up to 65 yards, having made 12 of 16 throws at the NFL Combine and 8 of 10 in the University of South Florida’s pro day. He also expressed excitement about playing for Ireland in the NFL and leading by example for the younger players.
He made it through a competitive tryout for IPP, which started in October 2023.
“I started to do a wee bit of training with (NFL International kicking/punting coach) Tadhg Leader in Ireland, maybe got three sessions done,” Smyth stated. He could tell that I was talented and had a tremendous leg. There were about twenty kickers present for the audition, and five were chosen to advance to the next round.
“I was flown from Ireland to England for the tryout, so I knew the NFL was behind it and that if we made it to the IPP program, we would be heading to the NFL Combine, even though I had no idea what to expect from the tryout itself. I was certainly a little anxious because I had watched the Combine on TV for the previous seven or eight years, so I knew what it was. I was aware that it was an opportunity to practice a great deal in order to practically test out for NFL teams.”
Smyth will now receive payment for his labor on a game he had been playing for free. The Gaelic football was played for no money.
“I have a 9 to 4 job.” Really, I completed my undergraduate degree last year, and I began teaching,” he remarked. It’s basically what I would be doing right now if I wasn’t (signed by Saints).
“Kicking Gael footballs over the bar like a field goal was my favorite thing to do in my free time. Thus, I don’t consider it to be a job. I find it incredible that I can now pursue my pastime full-time. I’m ecstatic to be doing it in New Orleans.”
Grupe was awarded the starting job last season following a competition with former Pro Bowler Wil Lutz, who in six seasons made 165 of 195 field goals (84.6 percent) and is one of the most successful kickers in franchise history. The organization has demonstrated its willingness to pursue somewhat unconventional routes.
Smyth’s path began with his August introduction to American football and ended in March with a three-year contract with the Saints.
“Just goes to show that if you have the swing and you have the talent and you have the mind-set that you can really make this possible in a short period of time,” he stated. “I’m eager to work with and learn from Coach Darren Rizzi, the Saints’ special teams coordinator, and Coach Phil Gailiano, the special teams assistant. Though who knows what will occur in the upcoming months, I am eager to go to work.”