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Katherine Terrell, ESPN Staff Writer
NEW ORLEANS — Charlie Smyth wasn’t going to give up.
He sent a message to the NFL’s general inquiries email in 2019, when he was 18, explaining that he would love to become a kicker and why he could be successful.
“I’m a young NFL fan from County Down in Ireland,” he wrote. “I’d love to get into American Football, as I kick frees in my sport of Gaelic football, similar to the way the ball is kicked for a field goal. Is there any possible way I can get seen to for kicking? Much appreciated.”
He also sent some direct messages on social media to the main Twitter, now X, account representing the NFL in the United Kingdom — and he waited.
He didn’t hear back from anyone.
So he moved on with his life, playing Gaelic football, an amateur sport in Ireland that he described as a cross between soccer and rugby, and he recently started teaching. But his NFL dream never went away.
It would take nearly five years for his dream to come full circle. The New Orleans Saints signed Smyth, now 22, to their 90-man roster last week after he went through a series of tryouts via the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program.
“Obviously being a fan of the NFL, you never really think that it’s actually possible to make that happen,” Smyth said. “I had goals in Gaelic football as well … but when the NFL came up, it was just like, ‘Whoa, this is way bigger.'”
Smyth signed a three-year deal with the Saints, although there’s no guarantee he will make the team or beat out current kicker Blake Grupe. Smyth would qualify for a 17th additional spot on the practice squad reserved for players in the IPP.
But, he said didn’t wait five years just to make the practice squad. His goal is to make the 53-man roster and secure a starting spot.
“I want the starting job. That’s why I’m here. I feel like this is a great opportunity to do that,” Smyth said. “Blake Grupe is an unbelievable kicker of a football as well and it’s going to be very difficult, but … I don’t want to be one of those boys who comes from the IPP just to sit on the practice squad for three years … and earn a wee bit of money and then go back. That’s not why I’m here. I want to be here because I want to play.
“We play Gaelic football all our lives for no pay, and we do it for the passion. … I’m doing it because this is what I love to do, and I want to be the best version of myself. To me, it’s not really about money. It’s about being the best version of myself and representing the country on a world stage and inspiring younger lads to follow suit. If you have a passion or a work ethic to achieve something, then why not go and do it? “
In 2017, the NFL established the International Player Pathway Program, described by the league as “an initiative designed to uncover and develop elite global talent capable of competing in the NFL.” Players who qualify for the program must be primary citizens of countries outside of the United States and Canada and have a maximum of two years of high school playing experience in the United States. Philadelphia Eagles tackle Jordan Mailata is an IPP success story, and the former rugby player from Australia just signed a three-year, $66 million extension.
The program did not have a spot for specialists until 2024, limiting opportunities for Smyth to get in front of scouts. And until August 2023, Smyth had never even kicked an American football.
Once he did, things moved fast. He did three training sessions in Ireland with kicking coach Tadhg Leader, who is now the IPP’s kicking and punting coach. In October, he flew to the NFL Academy in Loughborough, England, for a tryout.
Lost for words.
Charlie Smyth. Now of the @Saints
I first met Charlie 6 months ago.
He and his family put their trust in me. Then we embarked on a journey into the unknown.
From 🇮🇪 to the NFL
Thanks to Charlie’s talent and work ethic, we found a way!
Who’s next!? pic.twitter.com/DANhzz0QuT
— Tadhg Leader (@TadhgLeader) March 29, 2024
Smyth said there were 20 kickers that day, and he was one of the final five specialists to move to the next stage.
“I suppose after the combine in Loughborough, that’s when it hit me, this is a realistic thing for me to do because I feel like I’ve got a leg that’s capable of kicking in the NFL,” Smyth said.
Smyth then joined a group of 15 players from eight countries to train at IMG Academy in Florida for 10 weeks.
In a video reposted by the NFL UK’s X account, Smyth lined up for a 63-yard try on a windy practice day. Smyth’s kick veered heavily to the right and then curved back in to easily clear the uprights.
Check out this unreal 63-yard rocket from IPP Class of ’24 prospect Charlie Smyth!! 🇮🇪
🎥 (al.exander9228/IG) pic.twitter.com/oXuHesNohc
— NFL UK (@NFLUK) March 26, 2024
“In my sport of Gaelic football, I’ve had that kick so many times because in Ireland it’s quite windy with a lot of cross breezes,” Smyth said. “I kicked a 60-yarder on my pro day, and I’ve done that quite regularly in camp. … I feel like I’ve got a big leg and I’ve got good height on the ball, and I hope that continues.”
Smyth and the group kicked in front of teams at the NFL scouting combine in February in Indianapolis and also participated in the pro day at USF in Tampa, Florida.
By the end of the program, Smyth had the one thing he had wanted for five years: a chance.
“I’ve got a lot of messages from some young kids asking me how did you get into this? … It’s a real honor to say that you’re a role model for those younger lads in my country,” Smyth said. “It’s a real honor to fly the flag of Ireland on the national stage. … That’s been a goal of mine since I started this and one of my reasons for doing this. I wanted to represent Ireland on a national stage and be the best version of myself.”
Smyth will have to continue proving himself at the Saints’ rookie minicamp and through the offseason program to secure a spot on the 53-man roster or practice squad. Grupe won the kicking job in training camp last summer and the Saints traded longtime kicker Wil Lutz to the Denver Broncos as a result. Grupe made 30-of-37 field goals and all 40 PAT attempts, but missed a potential game winner against the Green Bay Packers in Week 3 and two field goals against the Houston Texans in what would be a 20-13 loss in Week 6.
He won’t be the only player with an unusual path to New Orleans. Second-year New Orleans punter Lou Hedley was an Australian rules footballer before moving to the United States to play American football.
“With a bit of self-belief and the right people around me, and with the right opportunity, I feel like I’ve given it me all, and I feel like I’ve got the ability to kick in this league and to kick for the Saints,” Smyth said. “It’s unbelievable, but now it’s time to get to work. This is when the real work starts.”
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