“I'm just Charlie from Mayobridge, who likes kicking a ball..." Smyth reflects on his remarkable NFL journey so far

“I don't even know if it has hit me,” reflects Charlie Smyth, when discussing his three-year contract with the New Orleans Saints.

“But this is where I saw myself being. I'm someone who likes to stay locked in everyday. When I got the contact I was absolutely thrilled, but I thought 'this is where I'm supposed to be'.

“I'm not surprised because I have done everything possible to try and make this happen. I have put in all the work, I have sacrificed everything, and this is what I deserve.

“Look, I mightn't be good enough, but at least I'll know that I went out there and I gave it my all. I have the belief that I am good enough, but obviously it's not my decision in terms of who gets to play or not.

“But I just can't wait to get going, and hopefully I'll make the decision for the coaches quite hard. I know there might be ups and downs, because there are a few adjustments I have to make, but I'm ready for it.”

One fateful day in October

Last October, Smyth – who is an avid fan of the NFL and a dead ball specialist in Gaelic football – wasn't happy with how things were going both on and off the pitch with Down and Mayobridge, and seeing that kicking coach Tadhg Leader was hosting an open session in Dublin, he decided to give it a try.

What has happened in the months since has been nothing short of remarkable, as he earned a place on the IPP (International Player Pathway) Programme, showcased his skills at the NFL Combine, and is now an NFL player.

When asked about how glad he is now that he gave it a go, Smyth says his confidence has taken a complete 180-degree turn since that day in October.

“I'm unbelievably proud of the way I have gone about the whole thing,” he said.

“I know it might sound strange saying that about yourself, but I have grown so much over the past six months, in terms of my maturity and being able to own the big moments.

“I was playing for Down last year and was a bit of a nervous wreck going into games and my confidence probably wasn't at its highest.

“But now, it has never been higher. The IPP guys, Tadhg Leader, Owen Cahill, those guys have really put their arm around my shoulder and have helped me to back myself.

“My family have been massive as well. At the start, they were saying 'Charlie, what are you doing?' I'm an independent person and I gave it a go, and then my family bought into it, and they have been unbelievably supportive.

“I have a long way to go, but the support from those closest to me, those who backed me - everybody knows who they are – I'm so grateful for them.”

Incredible Support

The news of Smyth's deal with the Saints broke on Friday March 29 and since then, he has witnessed an explosion of outpouring support.

The Mayobridge community packed out the club’s hall in a celebration of one of their own, Smyth's social media followers have shot up in the thousands, and he has appeared on Sky Sports TV, The Late Late Show, the BBC's GAA Social Podcast and more.

“The level of support has just been absolutely unbelievable,” said Smyth.

“I thought that I would get a good reaction from home, but I didn't expect half of the reaction that I got.

“I went to my home club in Mayobridge last Sunday night. I was driving home from Dublin after a long day of training. Obviously, I was quite tired on my way home, but my mum said 'you may get yourself ready to go up to the club'.

“We only live a minute away from the club, and driving up the car park was absolutely packed. I thought there was a game on or something, but I walked in and the hall was jam-packed.

“I thought 'oh my God, this is all for me – this is absolutely crazy’.

“I'm just Charlie from Mayobridge, who likes kicking a ball. I just so happened to get an opportunity to go to the NFL, which is my favourite sport to watch.

“Now I'm in the league, words just don't describe how grateful I am for all the support. It has just been insane honestly, the situation I'm in right now and I'm just very grateful for it.”

A Trailblazer

Smyth, alongside fellow Irishmen Rory Beggan, Mark Jackson and Darragh Leader stepped into the unknown in February when they embarked on the journey of trying to achieve an NFL contract.

Whilst Smyth is the first of his kind, coming from a Gaelic football background to sign in the NFL, the others remain free agents. However, Smyth is confident that they will get their chance too.

Even if they don't, Smyth's success may usher in a wave of Irish dead ball specialists in both GAA and rugby who will look to follow suit and try their hand at American football, as there is now a pathway established.

“Yeah, I can see that happening,” said Smyth.

“When I first thought that I could do it was when I was about 18 or 19, in around 2020 or so, that's when I first had the vision of myself doing this. But now for boys who are that age, there is now a pathway in Ireland to try it out.

“I can see that wave happening, especially as young lads are seeing the opportunities that I got to go to the NFL. I would highly doubt that I will be the last person to do what I have done.

“This year I can see at least one or two more of us getting a shot in the NFL, between Rory, Mark and Darragh; please God it works out for them as well, and I think it will.

“We have all put in so much work. Because we were the first year to do it, we were definitely walking into the unknown and there was nobody to compare ourselves to.

“There is a saying that 'success leaves clues' and I suppose the likes of ourselves are leaving clues for the younger lads to follow.

“As I said, I doubt I'll be the last to do this, but to be honest, I haven't even kicked in the NFL. I'm not happy to go out there and not play in a game, I want to be a starting kicker in the league.

“That's the next step I suppose.”

'I can definitely do this'

Smyth spoke to the Newry Reporter earlier this year before heading Stateside to train for the NFL Combine – an event where promising kickers showcase their skills in front of scouts of all 32 teams – and although his self belief came across, at that point nobody knew how he would perform against longer established American football kickers.

However, with his display at the Combine, he realised that he was capable of competing with the professionals.

“I suppose that happened at the Combine,” he said.

“I kicked decent: 12 out of 16, but I was nearly disappointed with that, because based off what I had done in training beforehand.

“My height on the ball at the line of scrimmage was in the top three, my ball speed was in the top half, and that showed me that I can compete against the best and that I can definitely do this.

“I remember getting pulled after the Combine by a Special Teams Co-ordinator who expressed interest, then over the coming weeks, I heard about six or seven teams enquiring, and I was thinking, 'Jesus, this is absolutely mental'.”

'Every young athlete's dream'

That performance earned him a workout, and then a contract with the Saints, and now Smyth is counting down the minutes until he can get back out to the United States and get to work.

“I'm absolutely thrilled to be a part of the Saints,” he said.

“It's a great organisation and the fans in the city are unbelievably passionate. I remember watching the Saints in Play-off games with Drew Brees (quarterback) and the atmosphere in the stadium meant that the commentators could hardly hear themselves talk.

“That's every young athlete's dream: to be playing in front of big crowds on one of the biggest stages in the world.

“Now, I'm just ready to get back out to New Orleans and really get started. I fly out on Sunday morning, and 'bring it on' I suppose is my attitude.

“It's not going to be easy; I know it sounds cliché, but the hardest part only starts now. I want to go out to the NFL to play and I will be going up against a kicker who has kicked in the league before.

“I have a lot to learn, but I back myself, I have got the belief in myself and I can do it.”

Smyth is no stranger to a team environment from his Gaelic football days, but he will enter into a locker room with some huge personalities and highly successful professional athletes – the same guys Smyth himself has been idolising on TV over the last few years.

“I can't wait for that,” he said, of sharing a locker room with the Saints' stars.

“Being part of the IPP allowed me to meet people from different cultures, but I haven't been in a locker room where the majority of the guys are Americans, so I haven't really been a part of that culture yet.

“But I am aware about how they conduct themselves based off watching interviews and fly-on-the-wall documentaries, and I feel as though I will absolutely thrive in that sort of environment.

“Walking into that environment might be the moment when hits me. I will be calling myself a teammate of Derek Carr (quarterback), Cameron Jordan (defensive end), Alvin Kamara (running back), all these guys are brilliant, brilliant players.

“I'll be in a locker room with boys I have watched on TV. Even thinking about now, I'm going to be teammates with Cameron Jordan – that's absolutely crazy.”

Big pressure moments

Being a kicker in the NFL is arguably one of the most scrutinised positions in any sport worldwide. Often, billion-dollar franchise teams have their season rest on the shoulders of the kicker.

A realistic scenario is, it's the last second, the team trails by two, and the kicker steps up with the chance to win the game. Make it, you're the hero. Miss it, you're the villain.

In 2002, Adam Vinatieri kicked a late field goal to win the Super Bowl for the New England Patriots. However, in 1991, Scott Norwood missed a last-second field goal and the Buffalo Bills lost the Super Bowl by a solitary point.

In short, kicking is hugely important and hugely pressurised.

However, Smyth keeps a level head when the question of scrutiny is put to him, instead saying that every kick needs to be treated the same, whether it's in the Super Bowl or on the Mayobridge pitch.

“If you're going into a kick thinking like that, you're not going to make very many kicks,” he said.

“I keep going back to it, and I know it sounds boring, but it really is about owning every moment. I have done a lot of mental training, where I really focus in on those moments and block out any noise and have situational awareness about every kick.

“You have to treat every kick like you're kicking up in Mayobridge's pitch or kicking in the Saints' practice facility. I know that is easier said than done, but there are so many techniques I can use that can help me do that.

“Any man who shies away from that situation, with the game on the line, kicking is probably not meant to be for them. Whenever the moment comes, I will show that I'm ready for it.”

Is the opportunity of kicking a winning field goal the most exciting part?

“The most exciting part has to be thinking about Week One of the regular season and being the starting kicker for the Saints,” Smyth replies.

There are a lot of people across Ireland and certainly in Mayobridge who hope that is the case too.

And the buzz around the 'bridge is in full swing. You can expect to see plenty of Saints merchandise in the area over the coming months and possibly years, and Smyth is absolutely relishing it all.

“I was at the event on Sunday signing Saints tops and Saints hats,” he said.

“I think there is a whole lot more merchandise to come into Mayobridge, and I may get some sent out and save people a few quid.

“It's brilliant; even seeing some of the young lads commenting under TikToks and stuff like that. Walking around the 'bridge and seeing Saints hats and jerseys has just been unreal.

“I love all of that craic and fair play to the lads. Once I find out my squad number, I'll definitely share it with the lads back home, so if they want to buy it, they can.”

The Newry Reporter’s chat with Charlie Smyth is available in full on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5l1Z5AZKeFgzm1yHzVj9KP?si=6IOIzRxLRQyfy5LgjXsXig and Acast: https://shows.acast.com/the-newry-reporter-sports-podcast