The New Orleans Saints announced this Friday the hiring of Irish kicker Charlie Smyth, former goalkeeper for Down GAA of the lower divisions of Irish football, for the 2024 NFL season.
Smyth, 22, came to the league via the ‘International Player Pathway’, a program created in 2017 with the purpose of giving talent from countries outside the United States the opportunity to reach the NFL.
The now former goalkeeper played for the County Down Gaelic team in the Gaelic Athletic Association.
He traveled to the United States last February through the ‘International Player Pathway’, as one of the 15 selected this year to seek a place in one of the 32 NFL teams.
The kicker appeared last week before NFL talent scouts at the University of South Florida facilities to show his skills, which the United Kingdom NFL previously shared in a video in which he is seen connecting a goal 65 yard field.
The record holder for the longest goal in NFL history belongs to Justin Tucker of the Baltimore Ravens, who connected on a 66-yard field goal in September 2021.
The New Orleans Saints have rookie Blake Grupe as their kicker, who last year was 30 of 37 on field attempts and was perfect on 40 extra points.
Charlie Smyth is the second International Player Pathway prospect in this year’s class of 15 to sign a contract with an NFL team.
The first was the Welshman Louis Rees-Zammit, a former rugby star, who earlier signed a three-year contract with the champions Kansas City Chiefs with whom he will seek to function as a runner, receiver or kick returner.
For the 2024 season and as part of a new rule, NFL teams have the option of using a spot on their practice squads reserved exclusively for an international player.
That player can be elevated to the active roster up to three times during the season.
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2024-04-10 15:09:54
