Story byCharlie Smyth made 12 of 16 field goals after becoming the Saints starter in November []BBCFri, January 16, 2026 at 8:10 AM UTC·4 min readNew Orleans Saints kicker Charlie Smyth says he does not believe he has "made it" despite becoming an NFL starter this season. The 24-year-old, from Mayobridge in Northern Ireland, made his regular season debut against the Miami Dolphins in November and was the Saints' kicker for the final six games of their campaign. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHe made 12 of 16 field goals, with a long of 57 yards, for the side who missed the play-offs with a 6-11 record in the NFC South, while also adding all 13 extra points he attempted. The former Gaelic footballer authored some memorable moments along the way, most notably when kicking the game-winner with six seconds remaining against the Carolina Panthers and later tying a franchise record with five made field goals against the New York Jets. Having originally joined the Saints' practice squad in 2024 as part of the NFL's international player pathway programme, he was elevated to the 53-man roster for the first time last month and rewarded with a new three-year contract. Even in an NFL season that featured 44-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers coming out of retirement five years after his last appearance, Smyth securing a starting role less than two years after his first ever game in the sport ranks as one of the most unlikely stories of the campaign. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementRather than embrace his newfound fame at the end of his rookie season, Smyth has already switched focus to ensuring he can have a long career in the sport."You come home and people nearly see you as someone different. People at home are bigging you up, but I'm not thinking I've made it, I haven't," he told the GAA Social, the BBC's Gaelic games podcast."I don't feel like people at home really understand the standards. If I want to keep my job, if I want to be an NFL kicker for as long as my right leg allows me to be, there's a standard where you need to be 85 to 90%, or really good in moments."I think I went 12-for-16 on the stats.