Charlie Smyth's family made it from Mayobridge to Miami Gardens just in time to witness the former Down footballer make his NFL debut in the New Orleans Saints loss to the Dolphins on Sunday, although his 56-yard field goal may prove more memorable for his parents and sisters than the 24-year-old placekicker.
Smyth made two successful cameos in his side's loss at Hard Rock Stadium, dispatching his field goal attempt in emphatic fashion before successfully executing an onside kick as he attempted to keep his side's slim comeback hopes alive in the 21-17 defeat.
A Tailteann Cup runner-up with the Mournemen as recently as 2023, Smyth will undoubtedly watch his 56-yarder countless times over the years, but those replays may be necessary, as when asked to recount his initial impression of the kick, he quipped: "I blacked out – I can't remember!
"I looked up and saw it was going down the middle. I knew I had enough power on it anyway, just the way it felt off the foot."
The Saints, who remain rooted to the bottom of the NFC South with just two victories from 12 games this season, made a dismal start to the encounter in suburban Miami and trailed 16-0 at half-time.
The Saints registered their opening touchdown in the third quarter, but head coach Kellen Moore predictably signalled for a two-point conversion attempt to make it a one-score game, leaving Smyth a spectator as quarterback Tyler Shough rushed over from two yards.
The Dolphins then added a field goal to their tally, before Smyth's authoritative kick bisected the posts with just over six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
"I suppose we were kind of waiting all game, and then the way the game was going, we needed two-point conversions if we scored a touchdown, so you were curious if the opportunity was going to come up," Smyth admitted to reporters.
"But ultimately you just have to stay ready.
"Then they scored a field goal to go up 11, so I knew we might have needed one at some stage, and the boys did a great operation and I was just happy to be able to knock it down."
Irishman Charlie Smyth's first career FG goes for 56 yds! 🇮🇪
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) November 30, 2025
📺: FOX | @NFLUKIRE pic.twitter.com/qmti6LNoIJ
Rain meant kicking conditions were not optimal, but the player's display in the warm-up and a minor tweak left him confident of avoiding a figurative and literal slip-up.
"I just made a little adjustment, where I was a little taller when I was kicking, so I wasn't planting as hard so that I wouldn't potentially slip," he revealed.
"Pre-game went really well and that just gave me the confidence then, going into kick.
"Whenever you're in that situation, those juices flow.
"You just can't replicate that when you're kicking on your own.
"Whenever you get that, it's all about fueling that into something that's going to be a positive impact on you. I use it to swing harder."
Smyth's journey to this point is all the more impressive as he missed out on a varsity career in American football, with his third-level education coming at Queens, rather than a US collegiate powerhouse.
The International Player Pathway Program provided a platform for his talents, with Smyth signing his first contract with the Saints in March 2024.
Blake Grupe has been the team's starting placekicker since that time, but the Arkansas State and Notre Dame alumnus discovered this week how cutthroat the league and his position can be as he was waived after a campaign that saw him make just 18 of 26 field goals.
A 69.2% grade in the discipline is a failing one in the NFL, and opened the door for Smyth to seize his moment, but only after seeing off recent Saints recruit Cade York in a kicking competition.
"It took a long time," Smyth said of finally making his regular season debut.
"But the coaches, they know what they're doing and they're paid to do this.
"They're really, really good and we didn't envision it being like this because Blake has been so good."
On passing his private kicking exam for the Saints during the week, he added: "The two of us kicked really well, but I was at peace – whatever the decision – because I felt like Thursday went really well.
"I'm just really grateful to everybody in this organisation, first of all, to take a look at me whenever I had only been kicking for three or four months and was really raw, and for them to keep seeing the potential.
"And then to say 'look, we think it's time' this week."
CHARLIE SMYTH CONVERTS THE ONSIDE KICK! 🇮🇪
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) November 30, 2025
Vele with the recovery
📺: FOX | @NFLUKIRE pic.twitter.com/93TEkzziaz
Smyth's parents and both of his sisters reached the venue in time for the game, but it was a close-run thing, with the player saying: "I think they travelled for 23 hours. They flew to Chicago and the flight got delayed because of snow and then they flew down to Miami, so it was awesome to see them there."
When his starting spot was confirmed on Friday, his parents were the first people Smyth relayed the good news to: "My mum was the first call, and then my dad was the second, because my dad was working.
"He was dealing with someone at the counter at the shop he works at, and was, like 'I'll phone you back in five minutes'.
"Then he went out to the car and he was really emotional, and the same with my mum.
"It was awesome and I'll never forget those moments, and even when Phil (Galiano, special teams coordinator) told me on Friday, it was awesome.
"I'm delighted, but we have to move on now to the next game and see how that goes."
After informing his parents of his first start, messages were dispatched to others in Mayobridge: "I told a few people from home when I found out and there was a watch party in the pub in Mayobridge, where I'm from.
"I think anytime I scored, there were free pints for everybody.
"I was wondering if they were going to get one!"
"The support has been awesome.
"The amount of messages I've got, it's incredible.
"I feel bad not getting back to everybody because there has been so much. I'm extremely grateful.
"That's the thing about Ireland, whenever we've got somebody doing something different, everybody in the nation gets behind you.
"Especially up in Down and in Mayobridge, throughout Ireland as well, I suppose.
"The support has been incredible.
"You know me, I'm very proud of where I come from. It was class."
