LAST UPDATE | 29 Mar
DOWN GOALKEEPER CHARLIE Smyth has been signed as a kicker by NFL side the New Orleans Saints on a three-year contract.
Saints sign kicker Charlie Smyth ⚜️
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) March 29, 2024
Former Gaelic football goalkeeper joins Saints from International Player Pathway programhttps://t.co/DLlXZSRJ2l
The Mayobridge man was one of four Irish athletes striving to get an NFL contract as part of the International Player Pathway programme (IPP).
Wicklow’s Mark Jackson, Monaghan’s Rory Beggan and former Connacht rugby player Darragh Leader are also taking part in the programme.
Earlier this month, Smyth, along with Beggan, signed with NFL agent Paul Sheehy. Sheehy’s Pro Star Sports company represents Harrison Butker, who is kicker for the NFL champions, Kansas City Chiefs.
At the showpiece in Indianapolis, Smyth converted 12 of his 16 attempts.
Smyth will now join the New Orleans Saints, winners of the Super Bowl in 2009. He was signed by the club following a workout at the Ochsner Sports Performance Centre.
The Saints’ starting kicker, Blake Grupe, had an 81.1% success rate last year. The league average is just under 86%.
Smyth will start off-season training with the Saints on 21 May.
