Charlie Smyth’s NFL debut wasn’t just a feel-good story - it was a statement. The Irish kicker, brought into the league via the International Player Pathway program, finally got his shot with the New Orleans Saints, and he made it count in a big way.
After nearly two years of grinding behind the scenes and coming up short in multiple camp battles, Smyth stepped onto the field Sunday and delivered a performance that turned heads - not just because of where he came from, but because of what he did when the lights were on.
Let’s start with the headline moment: a 56-yard field goal. That wasn’t just his first make - it was his first attempt in an NFL game.
And he drilled it. That kick now ranks among the top five longest successful first field goal attempts in league history.
Not bad for a guy whose journey to the pros started across the Atlantic.
But Smyth wasn’t done. He also pulled off a successful onside kick - a play that’s become almost mythical in today’s NFL, with a success rate hovering around just 4.7% in 2025. That’s the kind of execution that can flip momentum in a heartbeat, and Smyth delivered it with the confidence of a seasoned pro.
After the game, Smyth didn’t take a victory lap. Instead, he gave credit where it was due - to the guys around him.
“You're only able to develop as much whenever you can trust your operation,” he told reporters. “I don't have to worry about them ever because I know the ball is going to be perfectly set up.”
He singled out long snapper Zach Wood and punter/holder Kai Kroeger, calling Wood one of the best in the league and praising Kroeger’s reliability. That kind of humility and team-first mindset?
Coaches love that. Teammates rally around it.
But let’s not forget how long it took for this moment to arrive. This was Smyth’s third attempt to win the Saints’ kicking job.
His first came in 2024, when he lost out to Blake Grupe. He tried again this past August - same result.
But he kept showing up, kept working, and when the door finally cracked open, he kicked it down.
The Saints made the move after Grupe struggled throughout the 2025 season, converting just 18 of 26 field goal attempts - a 69.2% clip that ranked 33rd out of 34 qualified kickers. It was clear something had to change. The staff took their time making the decision, but once it happened, Smyth didn’t just fill the role - he elevated it.
There was a moment when it looked like Cade York, recently acquired, might get the nod instead. That would’ve made sense on paper.
But Smyth earned the job, not because of potential or pedigree, but because of what he brought to the table every day. And when the Saints finally gave him the keys, he didn’t flinch.
He validated the move and gave fans a reason to believe they’ve found a reliable leg - and maybe something even more.
Charlie Smyth’s debut wasn’t just about distance or accuracy. It was about resilience.
It was about capitalizing on a moment that was years in the making. And if Sunday was any indication, the Saints may have just found their kicker of the future - one with a booming leg, a cool head, and a story that’s only just getting started.