NFL kicker from tiny Irish village produces most heartwarming moment of the season with incredible debut

The small town of Mayobridge in Northern Ireland went wild when the ball sailed through the uprights 4,000 miles away in Miami on Sunday. 

Homegrown talent Charlie Smyth made his NFL debut for the New Orleans Saints against the Miami Dolphins after biding his time in the practice ranks. 

However, he was finally handed his chance on the NFL stage after being elevated to the active roster a day earlier to replace Blake Grupe, who was waived last week, and he did not waste it. 

Smyth, a former GAA keeper for Down who entered the NFL through the International Player Pathway, bagged his first career points with his first field goal attempt in the fourth quarter at the Hard Rock Stadium. 

The 24-year-old's 56-yard attempt clawed his side to 11-19, within a touchdown and a two-point conversion of the Dolphins. And his goal kick sparked wild scenes back home in County Down.

Michael McQuaid, an Irish NFL reporter, shared a clip from a local Mayobridge pub where a large crowd had crammed around one television. 

As Smyth's attempt sailed through the posts, they began raucously celebrating, cheering and waving their arms in the air, in a wholesome scene. 

McQuaid likened the atmosphere to a 'mini Super Bowl,' claiming that many viewers were already making plans to return for the Saints' clash against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next Sunday. 

Smyth also executed a sensational onside kick late in the fourth quarter to help prolong the Saints' comeback attempt. 

Although New Orleans was unable to complete the rally against the Dolphins, falling to a 21-17 loss, Smyth still managed to impress. 

Smyth was idle on the sideline for the entire first half as New Orleans was held scoreless and was only called upon twice, but he may have locked himself in as the Saints' new primary kicker. 

'Charlie, I thought, kicked really well. Big-time field goal. The onside kick obviously was really well-kicked. Phenomenal kick there and put us in a position to have a chance at the end,' Saints head coach Kellen Moore said. 

'Charlie's earned this opportunity. We have a lot of confidence in him. He obviously has the leg to make some big-time kicks.

'That (field goal) was a challenging situation, but it was a situation we needed to get some points there and he drilled it, and it was a phenomenal kick by him.' 

Smyth, who came to the Saints in 2024 as part of the NFL´s International Player Pathway program, kicked in the preseason in 2024 and 2025, hitting all four attempts this past summer, including two from 50-plus yards. 

The Saints then sent him too Dallas to work with a place-kicking specialist during this season. During practice, Smyth has been observed hitting field goals from 65 yards.

The Saints elevated Smyth from the practice squad this week to take over placekicking and kickoff duties. He replaced Grupe, who was cut on Tuesday after his two missed field-goal.

'It took a long time, and you say, "I feel ready, I feel ready.' But the coaches know what they're doing," Smyth said of his opportunity. 'We didn't envision being like this because Blake´s been so good. Again, I´ve learned so much from him.'

As soon as he learned he would be kicking on Sunday, Smyth contacted his parents back home. Smyth's parents and two sisters quickly arranged travel plans to be at Hard Rock Stadium. After a whirlwind 23 hours of travel delays and connecting flights, Smyth's family made it to the game.

'If we had to wait another three or four hours longer, I don´t think it would have been possible,' Smyth said of the turnaround time between the moment he received the news and his parents making the flight. 'It was so awesome to see them here.'