NEW ORLEANS — Charlie Smyth wasn’t going to surrender.
He despatched a message to the NFL’s normal inquiries electronic mail in 2019, when he was 18, explaining that he would like to turn out to be a kicker and why he could possibly be profitable.
“I am a younger NFL fan from County Down in Eire,” he wrote. “I might like to get into American Soccer, as I kick frees in my sport of Gaelic soccer, just like the best way the ball is kicked for a subject objective. Is there any potential method I can get seen to for kicking? A lot appreciated.”
He additionally despatched some direct messages on social media to the principle Twitter, now X, account representing the NFL in the UK — and he waited.
He did not hear again from anybody.
So he moved on together with his life, enjoying Gaelic soccer, an newbie sport in Eire that he described as a cross between soccer and rugby, and he lately began instructing. However his NFL dream by no means went away.
It might take almost 5 years for his dream to return full circle. The New Orleans Saints signed Smyth, now 22, to their 90-man roster final week after he went by a sequence of tryouts by way of the NFL’s Worldwide Participant Pathway Program.
“Clearly being a fan of the NFL, you by no means actually assume that it is truly potential to make that occur,” Smyth mentioned. “I had objectives in Gaelic soccer as properly … however when the NFL got here up, it was similar to, ‘Whoa, that is method greater.'”
Smyth signed a three-year take care of the Saints, though there isn’t any assure he’ll make the group or beat out present kicker Blake Grupe. Smyth would qualify for a seventeenth extra spot on the apply squad reserved for gamers within the IPP.
However, he mentioned did not wait 5 years simply to make the apply squad. His objective is to make the 53-man roster and safe a beginning spot.
“I need the beginning job. That is why I am right here. I really feel like it is a nice alternative to do this,” Smyth mentioned. “Blake Grupe is an unbelievable kicker of a soccer as properly and it should be very troublesome, however … I do not wish to be a type of boys who comes from the IPP simply to sit down on the apply squad for 3 years … and earn a wee bit of cash after which return. That is not why I am right here. I wish to be right here as a result of I wish to play.
“We play Gaelic soccer all our lives for no pay, and we do it for the eagerness. … I am doing it as a result of that is what I like to do, and I wish to be the very best model of myself. To me, it is not likely about cash. It is about being the very best model of myself and representing the nation on a world stage and galvanizing youthful lads to observe swimsuit. When you have a ardour or a piece ethic to attain one thing, then why not go and do it? “
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In 2017, the NFL established the Worldwide Participant Pathway Program, described by the league as “an initiative designed to uncover and develop elite world expertise able to competing within the NFL.” Gamers who qualify for this system should be major residents of nations outdoors of america and Canada and have a most of two years of highschool enjoying expertise in america. Philadelphia Eagles deal with Jordan Mailata is an IPP success story, and the previous rugby participant from Australia simply signed a three-year, $66 million extension.
This system didn’t have a spot for specialists till 2024, limiting alternatives for Smyth to get in entrance of scouts. And till August 2023, Smyth had by no means even kicked an American soccer.
As soon as he did, issues moved quick. He did three coaching periods in Eire with kicking coach Tadhg Chief, who’s now the IPP’s kicking and punting coach. In October, he flew to the NFL Academy in Loughborough, England, for a tryout.
Misplaced for phrases.
Charlie Smyth. Now of the @Saints
I first met Charlie 6 months in the past. He and his household put their belief in me. Then we launched into a journey into the unknown.
From 🇮🇪 to the NFL
Because of Charlie’s expertise and work ethic, we discovered a method!
Who’s subsequent!? pic.twitter.com/DANhzz0QuT
— Tadhg Chief (@TadhgLeader) March 29, 2024
Smyth mentioned there have been 20 kickers that day, and he was one of many remaining 5 specialists to maneuver to the following stage.
“I suppose after the mix in Loughborough, that is when it hit me, it is a sensible factor for me to do as a result of I really feel like I’ve obtained a leg that is able to kicking within the NFL,” Smyth mentioned.
Smyth then joined a gaggle of 15 gamers from eight nations to coach at IMG Academy in Florida for 10 weeks.
In a video reposted by the NFL UK’s X account, Smyth lined up for a 63-yard attempt on a windy apply day. Smyth’s kick veered closely to the best after which curved again in to simply clear the uprights.
Take a look at this unreal 63-yard rocket from IPP Class of ’24 prospect Charlie Smyth!! 🇮🇪
🎥 (al.exander9228/IG) pic.twitter.com/oXuHesNohc
— NFL UK (@NFLUK) March 26, 2024
“In my sport of Gaelic soccer, I’ve had that kick so many instances as a result of in Eire it is fairly windy with plenty of cross breezes,” Smyth mentioned. “I kicked a 60-yarder on my professional day, and I’ve performed that fairly recurrently in camp. … I really feel like I’ve obtained a giant leg and I’ve obtained good top on the ball, and I hope that continues.”
Smyth and the group kicked in entrance of groups on the NFL scouting mix in February in Indianapolis and in addition participated within the professional day at USF in Tampa, Florida.
By the tip of this system, Smyth had the one factor he had needed for 5 years: an opportunity.
“I’ve obtained plenty of messages from some younger children asking me how did you get into this? … It is an actual honor to say that you are a position mannequin for these youthful lads in my nation,” Smyth mentioned. “It is an actual honor to fly the flag of Eire on the nationwide stage. … That is been a objective of mine since I began this and one among my causes for doing this. I needed to signify Eire on a nationwide stage and be the very best model of myself.”
Smyth must proceed proving himself on the Saints’ rookie minicamp and thru the offseason program to safe a spot on the 53-man roster or apply squad. Grupe gained the kicking job in coaching camp final summer season and the Saints traded longtime kicker Wil Lutz to the Denver Broncos in consequence. Grupe made 30-of-37 subject objectives and all 40 PAT makes an attempt, however missed a possible recreation winner in opposition to the Inexperienced Bay Packers in Week 3 and two subject objectives in opposition to the Houston Texans in what can be a 20-13 loss in Week 6.
He will not be the one participant with an uncommon path to New Orleans. Second-year New Orleans punter Lou Hedley was an Australian guidelines footballer earlier than shifting to america to play American soccer.
“With a little bit of self-belief and the best individuals round me, and with the best alternative, I really feel like I’ve given it me all, and I really feel like I’ve obtained the flexibility to kick on this league and to kick for the Saints,” Smyth mentioned. “It is unbelievable, however now it is time to get to work. That is when the true work begins.”
