Mayobridge placekicker Charlie Smyth hoping to forge a career in the NFL

Smyth – who is known for his free taking abilities in Gaelic football - has been training regularly at American football kicking and punting since October, and the 22-year-old is one of 16 athletes who have been selected to participate in the NFL’s International Player Pathway (IPP) Program.

Established in 2017, the IPP program aims to provide elite international athletes with the opportunity to compete at the NFL level, improve their skills and ultimately work to earn a spot on an NFL roster.

Smyth is joined by fellow GAA stars Rory Beggan (County Monaghan), Mark Jackson (Wicklow) and Rugby Union player Darragh Leader (Galway) as the Irish representatives on the elite program.

The average NFL kicker earns $860,000 per year, and the highest paid kicker, Justin Tucker of the Baltimore Ravens, has a salary of $6,000,000.

The news was announced on Thursday evening, and Smyth spoke to the Newry Reporter about his excitement at getting a potential life-changing opportunity.

“It's unbelievable,” Smyth said.

“It's something that a year ago, I never thought would have been possible. This is the first year that kickers and punters are able to go through the NFL's International Player Pathway Program.

“I have been a huge fan of the sport for the last seven or eight years, and when I first went to try it out the pathway hadn't even opened, but I tried it out because I thought that if I was good enough, maybe I could get a college scholarship and go that route.

“I wasn't fully enjoying my football in the last year, so I decided to go down to Dublin to give American football a try and see what it's all about.”

Tadhg Leader is an Irish born Rugby Union player and American football placekicker, and he coaches the group of NFL-hopefuls multiple times a week. Smyth backed himself to go try a session last year, and having acquitted himself well, he had the confidence to keep at it.

“My first session with Tadhg went well, and then he sent out an email to say that the NFL had opened their pathway for kickers a week or two later,” said Smyth.

“I went to a session in Banbridge and there were four other lads who were at the top of their game, the likes of Rory Beggan and Niall Morgan and although I was considerably younger, I felt as though I was as good as they were.

“Because we kick the ball so many different ways, it wasn't that much of a transition for me. You use the same technique as if you were kicking a Gaelic football, with a bit of backspin. On free kicks I would usually like to curl the ball, so I point my toes to the left. But kicking the NFL ball, you're foot has to be dead straight when kicking it, but you have to find the sweet spot.

“That's taken me to where I am now, and I just feel lucky and grateful for the opportunity.”

Support from family

Whilst the NFL continues to grow in Ireland – as showcased by the Pittsburgh Steelers partnering with Ireland in their NFL Global Markets Program last year – but many are still unfamiliar with the sport. Consequently, Smyth may have gotten a few strange looks when he first announced his intentions to try out, but his family have since given him tremendous support to chase his dreams.

“Whenever I first told my mum that I was looking to go to Dublin to try it out, I think she was wondering why,” he said.

“But I just asked her to bear with me, because she knows that I'm a big fan of watching it on the TV, so I wanted to have a go at it, and she has been unbelievably supportive.

“I went through that phase at the start where I had to explain what it is, but they have been so supportive and they're always asking me about and it and hoping that I'm doing well.

“Their positivity has just been second to none, and I really appreciate all their support.”

Ready for the pressure moments

Having represented Down at inter-county level and having won an Ulster U20 title, Smyth is no stranger to pressure. However, in the NFL things get taken to a whole new level.

NFL games are played in front of an average crowd of 70,000 spectators and many of their games, including the Super Bowl come down to the last kick to determine who wins and loses. Thus, there is huge importance for kickers to be able to hold their nerve and perform in pressure moments.

Whilst many would shudder at that thought, Smyth says he welcomes the pressure.

“Every placekicker dreams of those moments,” he said.

“In football, growing up I always thought to myself that I would love a chance to kick a last-minute '45 to win a big game for the Bridge or for Down, and it's the same thing now with American football.

“You're imaging these moments like, 'if the game comes down to the last moment, am I prepared for it?' Something I probably have been working more on since trying American football is the mental side of the kick, and having processes to block out the noise.

“It's all about controlling the controllables: how you approach the ball, how hard you kick, what you're thoughts are before you kick the ball to help you block out the noise – that's something I have done a lot of work on.

“It would be unbelievable to get an opportunity to kick in front of thousands of people.”

Smyth travels out to Florida with the group in February, where he will train for three weeks before showcasing his skills at the Combine in front of scouts from all 32 teams. He will be hopeful of impressing and earning an opportunity to make it in the league.

“I have been training two or three times a week with Tadgh since October, and we meet all over the country,” said Smyth.

“We went to Boston last week and got to train at the New England Patriots facility which was class, and we're going to Florida on the eighth of February and we're training at the IMG Academy for three weeks, and the facilities are state-of-the-art. There are no facilities better than that in Ireland.

“The NFL Combine is on the third of March for kicking and the fourth of March for punting, and we'll see what happens after that.

“I can't wait for the opportunity, and I'm just enjoying the journey of it and getting better with each passing week, and being as best prepared as possible.”