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Just 39 days remain until the New Orleans Saints take the field for their regular season opener. The Saints are on the road to begin 2026, traveling to face the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Sept. 13. Kicker Charlie Smyth wears No. 39 for New Orleans as he enters his third training camp with the team.
Smyth was on the New Orleans practice squad for his first year and most of his second. Down the stretch of 2025, he'd finally get his opportunity and responded well. Smyth will have competition to hold the job this summer, but we feature him now in our Saints Player of the Day segment.
Charlie Smyth's path to the NFL is an uncommon one. A Gaelic football player growing up in Ireland, Smyth picked up the sport at the age of 4. He starred as a goalkeeper on the Ulster Under-20 championship squad and received multiple national honors. In 2024, Smyth looked to enter the NFL through the NFL's International Pathway Player Program. He hit on 20 of his 26 field goal attempts through the Scouting Combine and his Pro Day, including one from beyond 60 yards. It was enough to convince New Orleans to sign him, making Smyth the first Gaelic Athletic Association player to join an NFL team.
Smyth didn't make the Saints active roster coming out of 2024 training camp. However, he was added back to the New Orleans practice squad. He'd remain there for the duration of that year and was re-signed to a reserve/future deal at the end of the year. Charlie Smyth again challenged incumbent Blake Grupe for the kicking role during 2025 training camp. The battle was much closer, but the Saints still elected to keep Grupe and relegate Smyth to the practice squad. Grupe had major struggles through the first 11 games of last year, eventually forcing the team to release him and turn to Smyth.
Charlie Smyth pounced on his NFL opportunity. Over the last six games, he converted 12 of 16 field goal attempts and was perfect on his 13 extra points. He hit a 47-yard game-winning field goal to defeat the Carolina Panthers on the final play and converted 4 of 6 field goal tries from beyond 50 yards.
Smyth will have to earn the kicking job in 2026 for the Saints. New Orleans added UFL Special Teams Player of the Year Tanner Brown this offseason to provide competition. Brown has shown tremendous long-range accuracy. This has also been a strength for Smyth. Expect a battle throughout camp at this spot, but Charlie Smyth has already shown that he can respond to NFL pressures.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Countdown to Kickoff: Charlie Smyth is the Saints Player of Day 39
Continue reading...
Smyth was on the New Orleans practice squad for his first year and most of his second. Down the stretch of 2025, he'd finally get his opportunity and responded well. Smyth will have competition to hold the job this summer, but we feature him now in our Saints Player of the Day segment.
- Name (age): Charlie Smyth (25)
- Hometown: Mayobridge, Newry, Ireland
- Position: Kicker
- Height, weight: 6-foot-4, 210 pounds
- College: St. Marys University College (Belfast, Ireland)
- Relative Athletic Score: n/a
- Drafted: via NFL International Pathway Program in 2024 (Saints)
- NFL experience: 2 years
- 2026 salary cap hit: $1.01 million
Charlie Smyth's path to the NFL is an uncommon one. A Gaelic football player growing up in Ireland, Smyth picked up the sport at the age of 4. He starred as a goalkeeper on the Ulster Under-20 championship squad and received multiple national honors. In 2024, Smyth looked to enter the NFL through the NFL's International Pathway Player Program. He hit on 20 of his 26 field goal attempts through the Scouting Combine and his Pro Day, including one from beyond 60 yards. It was enough to convince New Orleans to sign him, making Smyth the first Gaelic Athletic Association player to join an NFL team.
Smyth didn't make the Saints active roster coming out of 2024 training camp. However, he was added back to the New Orleans practice squad. He'd remain there for the duration of that year and was re-signed to a reserve/future deal at the end of the year. Charlie Smyth again challenged incumbent Blake Grupe for the kicking role during 2025 training camp. The battle was much closer, but the Saints still elected to keep Grupe and relegate Smyth to the practice squad. Grupe had major struggles through the first 11 games of last year, eventually forcing the team to release him and turn to Smyth.
Charlie Smyth pounced on his NFL opportunity. Over the last six games, he converted 12 of 16 field goal attempts and was perfect on his 13 extra points. He hit a 47-yard game-winning field goal to defeat the Carolina Panthers on the final play and converted 4 of 6 field goal tries from beyond 50 yards.
Smyth will have to earn the kicking job in 2026 for the Saints. New Orleans added UFL Special Teams Player of the Year Tanner Brown this offseason to provide competition. Brown has shown tremendous long-range accuracy. This has also been a strength for Smyth. Expect a battle throughout camp at this spot, but Charlie Smyth has already shown that he can respond to NFL pressures.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Countdown to Kickoff: Charlie Smyth is the Saints Player of Day 39
Continue reading...
