The Saints came up just short in their Week 13 clash with the Dolphins, falling 21-17 in a game that saw New Orleans mount a gutsy second-half push. But while the scoreboard didn’t tilt in their favor, there was one undeniable bright spot that could carry long-term significance: Charlie Smyth has officially arrived-and he might just be here to stay.
The 24-year-old kicker out of Mayobridge, Ireland, made his NFL debut on Sunday, and let’s just say it didn’t take long for him to make an impression. After weeks of anticipation following the release of veteran kicker and former team captain Blake Grupe, Smyth finally got his shot-and he delivered in a big way.
Let’s start with the obvious: his first field goal attempt in the NFL came from 56 yards out. That’s a pressure-packed situation for any kicker, let alone a rookie making his debut on the road.
But Smyth stepped up and drilled it, splitting the uprights with room to spare. Based on the trajectory and power, you could argue that kick had the distance to go 70.
That’s not hyperbole-it was that clean.
And it wasn’t just about leg strength. Smyth showed poise, confidence, and control in a high-leverage moment, all traits you want in a kicker late in the season when every point matters. He didn’t just survive the moment-he owned it.
But the most eye-opening play of his debut might’ve come on special teams, not the scoreboard. With the Saints needing a miracle late, Smyth executed one of the most well-placed onside kicks we’ve seen in recent memory.
The ball took a textbook bounce, landed in just the right spot, and gave Devaughn Vele the chance to pounce. It was the kind of kick that brought back memories for Saints fans-specifically of Thomas Morstead’s legendary “Ambush” onside kick to open the second half of Super Bowl XLIV.
Fittingly, it happened in the same stadium.
Smyth’s performance wasn’t just technically sound-it was clutch, confident, and composed. After the game, he said he was “absolutely buzzing,” and it’s safe to say his hometown in Ireland was buzzing right along with him. For a player who came through the NFL’s International Player Pathway program, Sunday wasn’t just a debut-it was a statement.
The Saints may have lost the game, but they might have found something far more valuable moving forward: a kicker with a cannon for a leg, ice in his veins, and a knack for the moment. Charlie Smyth didn’t just fill a roster spot-he may have kicked his way into New Orleans’ long-term plans.