Down Man Charlie Smyth ‘Absolutely Buzzing’ After NFL Debut with saints
NEW ORLEANS, LA – Charlie Smyth, a native of down, Northern ireland, made a stunning NFL debut for the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, delivering crucial kicks in a narrow defeat against the Miami Dolphins. The Saints signed smyth, a product of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program, to their practice squad in March 2024, and he was elevated for his first regular season game after the team waived kicker Blake Grupe and added veteran Cade York to the practice squad.
Smyth impressed head coach Kellen Moore with a successful field goal and a well-executed onside kick. “Charlie, I thought, kicked really well. Big-time field goal. The onside kick obviously was really well-kicked. Phenomenal kick there and put us in a position to have a chance at the end,” Moore said following the game.
The opportunity came after an 18-month wait for Smyth to see regular season action. Moore emphasized Smyth’s preparation and earned opportunity: “charlie’s earned this opportunity. We have a lot of confidence in him.He’s worked at this thing for a number of years now. He’s prepared himself really well. We have a lot of confidence in him. He obviously has the leg to make some big-time kicks.”
smyth acknowledged the challenging circumstances surrounding Grupe’s release, stating, “Obviously we didn’t envision it being like this because Blake (Grupe) has been so good and I have learned so much from him.Tuesday was strange emotions because you saw your opportunity possibly coming up but then seeing him out was tough because we’re friends.”
Despite the emotional complexity, Smyth was ready when called upon. ”Ultimately, you get your head right and I was buzzing and then on Thursday, it was kind of a big day and I kicked really well. I was just excited to get the opportunity and to be honest, I’m kind of hiding it a little bit, I was absolutely buzzing.”
Smyth hopes his debut marks the beginning of a successful career with the Saints, adding, “It took a long time and it obviously means ‘I feel ready, I feel ready.’ But the coaches,they know what they’re doing. They’re really, really good.”
