‘Missing in front of 70,000 doesn’t come into your mind’

“I wasn’t thinking ‘there’s 70,000 people here, what if I miss?’, you just go and own what you are doing and make the most of any moment you get.”

Kicking a game-winner in the NFL was something that Charlie Smyth used to think about while trying to sleep at night.

On Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, it became a reality.

The 24-year-old has had a dream start to his American football career with the New Orleans Saints, going from first taking up the game to an NFL starter in two years.

But the unlikely journey reached a new level on his home debut last weekend, as he landed a 46-yard field goal with only six seconds on the clock to give the Saints their fourth win of the season.

“I just felt like I was ready for whatever opportunity that was going to arise”, former Gaelic footballer Smyth said.

“I have the ultimate faith in our field goal team, and then it’s up to me to knock the ball through.

“You come over to help your team, but it’s kind of those moments where you’re sleeping at night and thinking it would be cool to have a game-winning attempt. It was a cool moment.”

After being elevated from the practice squad for a third time, Smyth is now on the brink of earning a permanent spot on the Saints’ 53-man roster.

NFL rules state a player cannot return to the practice squad for a fourth time in a season, so if Smyth is to play against the New York Jets on Sunday (18:00 GMT) he would have to be elevated to the senior roster on a full-time contract.

While his promotion has not yet been confirmed by the Saints, he says “things are looking good”, a remarkable achievement for someone who in 2023 was still playing a different sport altogether.

Smyth is a former goalkeeper in Gaelic football in his native County Down and found a route into the NFL after coming through the International Player Pathway.

After joining the Saints in March 2024, he had to wait for his time to shine but made his regular-season debut last month after previous kicker Blake Grupe, now of the Indianapolis Colts, was waived and Smyth won a kicking competition with veteran Cade York.

“There has been a lot of work behind the scenes over the past two years, where you are maybe questioning if you will see the field, or if my lack of experience would hold me back,” the Mayobridge native admitted.

“I was seeing too much progress to even think about coming home.

“I was wondering if it was ever going to come, especially with my experience and not playing college football, but I think I’ve shown people in this organisation, and they’ve shown enough belief in me, to go out and get it.”

After his match-winning kick in only his third NFL appearance, Smyth was mobbed by his team-mates and, in the locker room, was handed a game ball by head coach Kellen Moore, who had given his backing to his kicker in the build-up to the game.

That faith was rewarded.

“It was a really cool moment. You kind of see that around the league and you always imagine it would be pretty cool to be in that situation.

“I wanted to make sure that I was giving credit to my team-mates in that moment.

“I don’t know if it’s being Irish or whatever, but you’re almost like ‘alright fellas, that’s enough. Can we move on?’.

“You are supposed to enjoy those moments. It’s not often the head coach calls up the kicker to break the team down.”

Smyth was full of praise for his team-mates and said the “vibe hasn’t changed” after consecutive wins over division rivals followed a 2-10 record to start the season.

“Our team has stuck together the whole season and it’s been really cool to be a part of.

“We know we are growing together as a team. They are really good guys to be around and we know that we’re in it together.”

After the match, Smyth marked his game-winner by getting pizza with his mum, sister and girlfriend at his apartment.

It was a low-key celebration to the biggest moment of his career to date, but Smyth felt it was exactly what he needed.

“I was just soaking it in. I was glad it was the four of us together. I wished my dad could have been there too but he was tied up with work.

“It was just a really cool evening and I’m glad I got to celebrate with those who are closest with me.”

Despite the attention currently surrounding Smyth, he acknowledges “you’re only as good as your last kick” and his focus is now fully on this Sunday’s meeting with the Jets.

“I’m trying not to look at too big a picture because if you look too far ahead you can put a bit more pressure on yourself.

“Even your stats. If you look at something and go if ‘I make this then I’m up to 95%’, it’s even little things like that.

“It’s ultimately one kick at a time and owning that kick, and making sure you are as mentally locked in as possible. It’s onto the Jets now and trying to end the season strong.”