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22nd December 2025
11:15am GMT
Charlie Smyth's NFL dream continued last night during the New Orleans Saints' 29-6 victory over the New York Jets.
The Down kicker scored 17 points, equalling the franchise record for most field goals in a game with five, while he also nailed two PATs.
The 24-year-old, who recently signed a three-year deal with the Saints, could even have broken the record, but narrowly missed a 61-yard attempt in the first half.
Speaking after the game he said: "The support from everybody back in home in Ireland has been unreal. I'm super grateful for it.
"A lot of people are pushing the game of American football in Ireland now and it's nice to play a small part in the rise of even just the fan culture at home.
"I'm delighted to be a part of that. The support has been amazing, I'm just constantly getting texts and my phone is constantly blowing up this past couple of weeks."
However, the NFL hasn't yet taken the GAA out of the youngster, with Saints sideline reporter Jeff Nowak commenting that Smyth was picking up his own tee forgetting "there's a kid that runs out to get the kicking tee."
Smyth was also asked after the game about the successful sporting year Northern Ireland has enjoyed, but like a true nationalist he responded by praising Ireland's achievement's as a whole.
He said: "It's been a great year for all of our Irish sports to be honest.
"Rory [McIlroy] won the Masters, then Shane Lowry hit the putt in the Ryder Cup. The athletics at home is taking off really well, a couple of the girls are doing really well.
"The Irish soccer team had a big win against Hungary a couple of weeks ago, so I feel like the sport at home is rising. Katie Taylor in boxing.
"Irish sporting culture is really picking up and it's pretty cool to be a part of that."
#Saints K Charlie Smyth on the support he has received back home in Ireland:
— NOF (@nofnetwork) December 21, 2025
"It's nice to play a small part in the rise of even just the fan culture at home ... It's been unreal." pic.twitter.com/DTBpEMA7ev
