Charlie Smyth: County Down man signs new contract with New Orleans Saints
Smith earned his first Saints contract last March after impressing at the NFL combine, a series of tests for aspiring American footballers.
Smith, who won the Ulster Under-20 Championship with Down in 2021, has a bright future in Gaelic football, a sport he has played his entire life.
However, after deciding to pursue his dream of playing in the NFL, he began training with Tadhg Leader, a kicking coach in the NFL’s International Player Pathway (IPP) program.
Smith attended the NFL combine in Indianapolis along with Monaghan goalkeeper Rory Bacon, Wicklow’s Mark Jackson and former Connacht rugby player Darragh Leader.
Smith, a Mayobridge native, impressed at the combine and pro day selections and was invited to the Saints’ training facility before signing.
Practice squad members remain on the original team’s roster, will continue to practice and will be on call in the event of an injury.
