“Going missing in front of 70,000 people doesn’t cross your mind”

“I wasn’t thinking ‘there are 70,000 people here, what if I fail?’, you just have to own what you do and make the most of every moment you have.”

Hitting a game-winner in the NFL was something Charlie Smyth thought about while trying to sleep at night.

Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, it became a reality.

The 24-year-old had a dream start to his American football career with the New Orleans Saints, going from starting player to NFL starter in two years.

But the improbable trip reached a new level in his home debut last weekend, as he kicked a 46-yard field goal with just six seconds on the clock to give the Saints their fourth win of the season.

“I felt like I was ready to take any opportunity that came my way,” said former Gaelic footballer Smyth.

“I have absolute confidence in our field goal team, and then it’s up to me to pass the ball.

“You come out and help your team, but it’s kind of those moments where you’re sleeping at night and you think it would be cool to try to win a game. It was a cool moment.”

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

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

Although his promotion has not yet been confirmed by the Saints, he claims “Things are looking good”a remarkable feat for someone who, in 2023, was still playing a completely different sport.

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

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

“There’s been a lot of work behind the scenes over the last couple of years, where you might wonder if you’ll see the field, or if my lack of experience would hold me back,” the Mayobridge native admitted.

“I saw too much progress to even think about going home.

“I wondered if it was ever going to happen, especially with my experience and me not playing college football, but I think I showed the people in this organization, and they showed enough confidence in me, to go out and get it.”

Pizza and dip in it

After his game-winning kick in his third NFL appearance, Smyth was mobbed by his teammates and, in the locker room, was handed a game ball by head coach Kellen Moore, who had been supportive of his kicker in preparation for the game.

This faith was rewarded.

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

“I wanted to make sure I gave credit to my teammates in that moment.

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

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

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

“Our team stuck together all season and it was really cool to be a part of.

“We know we’re growing together as a team. They’re really good guys and we know we’re in this together.”

Charlie Smyth is mobbed by his teammates — Smyth was mobbed by teammates after taking the winning spot-kick on his home debut (Getty Images)

After the match, Smyth scored his winner while eating pizza with his mother, sister and girlfriend in his apartment.

It was a low-key celebration of 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 the four of us were together. I wish my dad could be there too, but he was busy with work.

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

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

“I try not to look too broad, 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 say if ‘I’m doing this then I’m at 95%’, it’s even little things like that.

“At the end of the day, it’s about one kick at a time and owning that kick, and making sure you’re as locked in mentally as possible. It’s on to the Jets now and I’m trying to finish the season strong.”