Charlie Smyth & the NFL’s Great Global Pipeline
From Gaelic Goalposts to NFL Uprights
Charlie Smyth’s debut has already been covered by RTE and the BBC (Photo Credit: Newry)
When Charlie Smyth was 18, he sent an email to inquiries@NFL.com, pitching that his Gaelic Football skills would transfer over to kicking field goals. No one responded. But six years later, the Northern Irishman kicked his first career field goal as a professional — a 56-yarder on November 30, that brought the New Orleans Saints within striking distance of the Miami Dolphins late in the fourth quarter. To add the cherry on top of a debut performance, Smyth followed it up with a successful onside kick to give the Saints one more chance to win the game.
Smyth’s journey to the league was unconventional. After years of successful play in the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), he got an opportunity in the NFL's International Player Pathway (IPP) program in January 2024. Following an impressive showing at his pro-day, he signed a three-year deal with the Saints to become the first Gaelic football player to sign an NFL contract. Though waived during roster cuts in August and signed to the practice squad, his elevation and subsequent debut cemented his arrival — and solidified a key victory for the NFL’s global outreach.
Designed to provide non-American athletes — particularly those who did not play college football in the United States — a clearer path to the NFL, the International Player Pathway program has helped a number of athletes from different sports transition to American football. Founded in 2017, the program is a key part of the NFL’s long term global expansion strategy. Not only does it spread the league’s iconic brand beyond borders, but it establishes reliable systems for young athletes (and their families) to build a life around and offers the chance for people around the world to realistically imagine a career playing a sport that might not be popular in their country. Along with Smyth, notable IPP alumni include Eagles’ tackle Jordan Mailata (originally a rugby player from Australia) and Ravens’ defensive end C.J. Okoye, who grew up playing basketball in Nigeria.
It’s easy to see the program’s appeal for the NFL, as the elevation of players like Charlie Smyth gives the league authentic, deeply resonant links to new fanbases. The better they do, the more locals from their homeland will tune in to watch the sport, follow teams, and maybe buy a jersey.
But it also shows the need for sports diplomacy education. What happens when someone asks Charlie (or a teammate) a question about his native Northern Ireland and its relationship to Ireland? Or asks for his opinion on The Troubles? Or makes a comment that could easily be interpreted as offensive to someone whose family — and all those potential new fans — lived through them?
While the International Player Pathway (IPP) Program creates an excellent pipeline for attracting players from around the world, the increasing globalization of the NFL presents new challenges. As the league becomes more international, global political, social, and historical issues will inevitably become part of the conversation. NFL players are frequently asked to comment on such issues, and the IPP program will only increase the complexity of these demands on both the international players and their future teammates.
To best prepare these athletes, the NFL should incorporate an element of sports diplomacy education into the IPP program. This would help participants (and their teammates) understand, and potentially feel more comfortable commenting on, the international affairs that accompany their growing presence in the league.
