Irishman Charlie Smyth will make Saints debut after being elevated from the practice squad

Charlie Smyth finally will get his chance to show what he can do in his adopted game. 

The New Orleans Saints elevated Smyth from the practice squad Saturday, indicating he will serve as the team’s kicker Sunday against the Miami Dolphins. 

New Orleans waived kicker Blake Grupe on Tuesday after he missed a pair of field goals in a loss to the Atlanta Falcons. The Saints signed Cade York to the practice squad, then used the competition during the week to decide whether York or Smyth would handle kicking duties against Miami. 

They ended up choosing the homegrown option.

Smyth is a native Irishman who grew up playing Gaelic football, and prior to the 2024 season he never had even attempted to play the American game.

He was working as a teacher in his native country when he attempted a tryout and earned a slot in the International Player Pathway, through which the Saints signed him. 

Smyth has been with the team since spring 2024, but Sunday will mark his first time wearing a uniform for a regular-season game. Prior to this week, Smyth’s only game action had come in the preseason, where he made each of his five attempts over the last two seasons. 

The talent is undeniable with Smyth, who has impressed from long distance in training camp practices, but because he’s new to the game he has also had to navigate consistency issues at times. 

“I come over here; I want to play,” Smyth said earlier this week. “Obviously I didn’t play the sport before, so it’s taken time to make some adjustments and improvements on things, and I feel like I’m in a pretty good spot right now.”