JACKSON: Charlie Smyth has earned Saints’ kicker role

By Ross Jackson

While the New Orleans Saints appear to have found their quarterback in rookie Tyler Shough, the team has also found its future at another position: kicker.

Charlie Smyth, the Irish-born international kicker is having a storybook year, one that is getting better and better each week. The story reached its peak of action in Week 15 when Smyth booted a 47-yard game-winner with two seconds left on the clock, lifting the Saints to a win over the Carolina Panthers.

Charlie Smyth hits a 47-yd FG to give the #Saints a 20-17 lead!!!!

📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/9A4kPh8QQg

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) December 15, 2025

“I was just delighted to get the opportunity,” Smyth said after the game. “We’ve got a great operation and I never even have to think about the ball being in the right spot with the right hold because [long snapper Zach Wood] and [punter Kai Kroeger] are so good. It was a cool moment and one I’ll never forget.”

After that monumental moment, Smyth finished all three of his standard practice squad elevations going 4/5 on field goal attempts with his lone miss coming in rainy conditions against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was also perfect on extra point tries during his multi-game opportunity.

The Saints’ confidence in Smyth is evident with every player and coach after the win expressing they never had a doubt that the Mayobridge native would sink the shot and send the team into the locker room with a win.

“I knew he was going to knock that down. That’s my boy,”

Olave on Smyth’s 47-yd game-winning FG. pic.twitter.com/KmzUU2qJm0

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) December 15, 2025

With all of the success Smyth has had, which has been a revelation following the release of former kicker Blake Grupe, who also hit a 60-yard go-ahead field goal for the Indianapolis Colts earlier in the same afternoon (despite the game still resulting in a loss) and the confidence shared in his abilities moving forward, it’s time to acknowledge the team’s truth. Not only do the Saints have their quarterback of the future, they have their kicker of the future as well. 

In order for New Orleans to move ahead with Smyth as their starting kicker, the team will have to add him to its active roster. While the move doesn’t have to happen until Saturday before the Saints’ Week 16 matchup with the New York Jets, it’s a move the Saints must make. Smyth deserves to be the team’s kicker of the future and he’s proved it enough to not leave it to question while looking at another option.