Charlie Smyth
{{Short description|American football placekicker (born 2001)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
|name=Charlie Smyth
|image=
|caption=
|current_team=New Orleans Saints
|number = 39
|position=Placekicker
|birth_date= {{Birth date and age|2001|06|26|df=y}}
|birth_place=Mayobridge, Newry, County Down, Northern Ireland
|height_ft=6
|height_in=4
|weight_lb=210
|pastteams=* New Orleans Saints ({{NFL Year|2024}}–present)*
|status=Active
|pfr=SmytCh00
|module={{Infobox Gaelic games player
| embed = yes
| occupation =
| sport = Gaelic Football
| code = Football
| county = Down
| province = Ulster
| club = Mayobridge
| clyears = ?–2024
| clposition = Goalkeeper
| clapps(points) =
| clcounty =
| clprovince =
| clallireland =
| counties = Down
| icyears = 2023–2024
| icposition = Goalkeeper
}}}}
Charlie Smyth (born 26 June 2001) is an Irish{{Cite web |title=Garlic football |url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/my-family-and-friends-were-still-up-at-530am-charlie-smyth-on-his-breakthrough-nfl-moment-with-new-orleans/a1538065692.html}} 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.
Gaelic football career
Smyth began playing Gaelic football when he was four years old.{{cite web|url=https://www.neworleanssaints.com/news/charlie-smyth-kicker-ireland-contract-new-orleans-saints-roster-2024-nfl-free-agency|title=New Orleans Saints sign kicker Charlie Smyth|website=New Orleans Saints|date=29 March 2024|accessdate=30 March 2024}} 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.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishnews.com/gaa/gaelic-football/i-really-felt-like-i-belonged-there-charlie-smyth-hoping-for-nfl-call-after-impressing-at-combine-OLDODAPDPZHWTD3OEXRDL7MAGM/|title="I really felt like I belonged there..." Charlie Smyth hoping for NFL call after impressing at Combine|publisher=The Irish News|first=Andy|last=Watters|date=8 March 2024|accessdate=30 March 2024}}
In 2021, Smyth was the goalkeeper on the Down winning team to lift the Ulster Under-20 title, their first since 2009.{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2021/0730/1238320-down-storm-to-victory-to-lift-ulster-u20-title/|title=Down overcome Monaghan in Ulster U20 final on emotional night in Armagh|publisher=RTÉ News|first=Francis|last=Mooney|date=31 July 2021|accessdate=30 March 2024}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/american-football/68708770|title=Charlie Smyth says 'this is where the real work starts' after signing New Orleans Saints deal|publisher=BBC News|date=2 April 2024}} He was one of three players from Down who received honours in the EirGrid All-Ireland Under-20 football awards that year.{{cite news|url=https://www.the42.ie/offaly-all-ireland-u20-football-5537416-Sep2021/|title=All-Ireland champions Offaly lead the way as 8 counties honoured in U20 football awards|publisher=The42.ie|first=Fintan|last=O'Toole|date=1 September 2021|accessdate=30 March 2024}}
In 2023, he made his debut on the Down county football team and was a Tailteann Cup runner-up with Down.{{cite news|url=https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/sport/gaa/gaelic-football/down-gaa-star-charlie-smyth-28473477|title=Down GAA star Charlie Smyth taking inspiration from Green Bay Packers punter as NFL dream moves closer|publisher=Belfast Live|first=Michael|last=McQuaid|date=18 January 2024|accessdate=30 March 2024}}{{cite news|url=https://www.irishnews.com/gaa/gaelic-football/down-goalkeeper-charlie-smyth-to-join-rory-beggan-and-mark-jackson-at-american-football-trials-HEKAEXLHNRA35MQG7K6I2XQ4NM/|title=Down goalkeeper Charlie Smyth to join Rory Beggan and Mark Jackson at American Football trials|publisher=The Irish News|first=Andy|last=Watters|date=15 December 2023|accessdate=30 March 2024}}
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.{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/us-sport/2024/0124/1428332-irish-gaa-trio-fly-out-to-kick-chase-their-nfl-dream/|title=Irish trio of Gaelic footballers fly out to kick & chase their NFL dream|publisher=RTÉ News|first=Damian|last=Lawlor|date=25 January 2024|accessdate=30 March 2024}} He participated in the NFL Scouting Combine where he connected on 12 of 16 field goal attempts.{{Cite web |title=Five Things to Know about Saints kicker Charlie Smyth |url=https://www.neworleanssaints.com/news/charlie-smyth-kicker-new-orleans-saints-roster-five-things-to-know |access-date=1 April 2024 |website=www.neworleanssaints.com |language=en-US}} At his pro-day, he made 8 of 10 field goals, including one from 60 yards. 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.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/down-gaa-goalkeeper-charlie-smyth-becomes-nfl-player-with-three-year-new-orleans-saints-deal/a346800155.html|title=Down GAA goalkeeper Charlie Smyth becomes NFL player with three-year New Orleans Saints deal|publisher=Irish Independent|first=Shane|last=Brennan|date=29 March 2024|accessdate=30 March 2024}}{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/us-sport/2024/0329/1440768-downs-smyth-becomes-a-saint-in-the-nfl/|title=Down's Charlie Smyth joins the New Orleans Saints on a three-year contract|publisher=RTÉ News|first=Damian|last=Lawlor|date=29 March 2024|accessdate=30 March 2024}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/american-football/68661901|title=Charlie Smyth: Gaelic footballer gets NFL deal with New Orleans Saints|publisher=BBC News|date=29 March 2024|accessdate=30 March 2024}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.neworleanssaints.com/news/kicker-charlie-smyth-received-nfl-reply-he-sought-from-new-orleans-saints|title=Kicker Charlie Smyth received NFL reply he sought from New Orleans Saints|website=New Orleans Saints|first=John|last=DeShazier|date=1 April 2024|accessdate=2 April 2024}} He was waived on August 27, and re-signed to the practice squad.{{cite web|title=New Orleans Saints announce roster moves|url=https://www.neworleanssaints.com/news/new-orleans-saints-53-man-roster-cuts-moves-transactions-august-27-2024-nfl-season|website=NewOrleansSaints.com|date=August 27, 2024}}{{cite web|title=New Orleans Saints announce roster moves|url=https://www.neworleanssaints.com/news/new-orleans-saints-2024-practice-squad-announced-roster-moves-transactions-2024-nfl-season|website=NewOrleansSaints.com|date=August 28, 2024}} Smyth signed a reserve/future contract with the Saints on January 6, 2025.{{cite web|title=New Orleans Saints announce roster moves|url=https://www.neworleanssaints.com/news/new-orleans-saints-announce-roster-moves-1-6-2025|website=NewOrleansSaints.com|date=January 6, 2025}}
Personal life
Smyth is a native of Mayobridge, Newry.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/2024/03/29/down-goalkeeper-charlie-smyth-signs-with-new-orleans-saints/|title=Down goalkeeper Charlie Smyth signs with New Orleans Saints|publisher=The Irish Times|first=Nathan|last=Johns|date=28 March 2024|accessdate=30 March 2024}} He attended St Colman's College.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishnews.com/gaa/gaelic-football/the-biggest-opportunity-ill-ever-get-down-goalie-charlie-smyth-chasing-american-football-dream-A72C6BPQGJCXNP4DTVAZTDDUNE/|title="The biggest opportunity I'll ever get..." Down goalie Charlie Smyth chasing American Football dream|publisher=The Irish News|first=Andy|last=Watters|date=1 February 2024|accessdate=30 March 2024|url-access=subscription}} Smyth studied at St Mary's University College, where he was completing a master's degree in physical education.{{cite news|url=https://www.sportsjoe.ie/gaa/charlie-smyth-nf-306496|title=Everything you need to know about Charlie Smyth, the GAA player turned NFL star|publisher=SportsJOE.ie|first=Lee|last=Costello|date=30 March 2024|accessdate=30 March 2024}} 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.{{cite news|url=https://www.skysports.com/nfl/news/12118/13106444/charlie-smyth-gaa-goalkeeper-ready-to-show-he-can-be-nfl-starting-kicker-for-new-orleans-saints|title=Charlie Smyth: GAA goalkeeper ready to show he can be NFL starting kicker for New Orleans Saints|publisher=Sky Sports|date=2 April 2024}}{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/i-thought-i-would-be-teaching-then-playing-gaelic-football-charlie-smyth-on-surreal-feeling-of-his-nfl-deal/a1663719674.html|title='I thought I would be teaching, then playing Gaelic football' – Charlie Smyth on 'surreal' feeling of his NFL deal|publisher=Irish Independent|first=Donnchadh|last=Boyle|date=2 April 2024|accessdate=2 April 2024}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Footballstats |nfl=charlie-smyth |espn=5208518 |yahoo=40873 |pfr=SmytCh00 }}
{{New Orleans Saints roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smyth, Charlie}}
Category:Gaelic football goalkeepers
Category:Down inter-county Gaelic footballers
Category:Gaelic footballers who switched code
Category:Mayobridge Gaelic footballers
Category:Sportspeople from County Down
Category:New Orleans Saints players
Category:American football placekickers
Category:International Player Pathway participants
Category:Northern Irish players of American football
Category:Expatriate sportspeople from Northern Ireland in the United States