Charlie Smyth has already made it further than anyone could ever have dreamed when you consider that he grew up as a Gaelic football goalkeeper, and could now potentially play in the NFL in America.
The Mayobridge native went to kicking trials last year, and soon things began to snowball as he was selected to go to a combine, before eventually being signed by an agent, and then given his opportunity by the New Orleans Saints.
Within 12 months the shot-stopper went from wearing a GAA jersey with number one on the back, to being bulked up with shoulder pads, helmets, and the pressure of screaming Americans cheering you on.
It's a crazy story that continues to get crazier as it progresses, but the dream of seeing Smyth line out in the actual NFL is still just a dream, but it can become closer to reality depending on how things shape up this Sunday.
The Saints face the Tennessee Titans in their final NFL pre-season clash on Sunday, and it could be the County Down man's big opportunity to show what he can do.
READ NOW: Co. Down's Charlie Smyth Kicks Game Winner With First Attempt In NFL
Blake Grupe is the requisite Saints kicker and started the pre-season games against the Arizona Cardinals, last week, and against the San Francisco 49ers, making all three of his field-goal attempts so far.
However, against Cardinals, Smyth was called upon late in the game, and had to take a very high pressured kick right at the death. The sharp shooter managed to kick a 37-yard field goal to win the match, and ultimately, impress those in charge of deciding his future.
Smyth will be hoping for one more chance to shine in this Sunday's game and give himself a chance of being picked to play in the first game of the season against Carolina Panthers on 8 September.
Tadgh Leader, the man who ran the kicking clinics that started all of this for Smyth was never in doubt when he saw the young prodigy step up for that all-important kick.
In his first field goal attempt at any level of American football, Charlie Smyth kicked a game-winning 37-yard FG last night 🙌
Not a bad @NFL debut for the 22-year-old from Newry, Ireland 🇮🇪#Saints | @NFLUKIRE pic.twitter.com/4fUE7VEhXK
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) August 11, 2024
That kick would carry as much high-pressure expectation for Charlie as it would for him to kick the winner in Superbowl," Leader told RTÉ
"That moment had been building for a year. It was huge. Kick it and you win the game. Miss it, you go home, and you might get cut.
"That kick involved everything that you could possibly throw on a lad to see if he has what it takes.
"And watching it here back home at 4.30am Irish time I knew it was the perfect scenario for Charlie because I knew he would take it in his stride."
Even if things don't go to plan this Sunday, it doesn't necessarily put an end to Smyth's NFL dreams because even if he is not selected as part of the 53-man roster on 27 August, as an IPP player he can be retained as an extra man on the practice (reserve) squad, which means he effectively lives to fight another day.
