After signing with the New Orleans Saints after going through the NFL’s International Player Pathway, Smyth was elevated to the roster for the game against the Miami Dolphins.
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While the Saints would ultimately lose the game, the former Gaelic footballer was positive in what has been a difficult season for New Orleans.
After scoring his first NFL field goal, which flew between the uprights with room to spare, Smyth completed an onside kick, a short restart tactic used to try to regain possession when trailing on the scoreboard.
The kickoff technique is rarely successful. In fact, he only has a 7% recovery success rate in the NFL this season.
But how did your GAA experience help you against all the odds?
According to Saints special teams coordinator Phil Galiano, the onside kick was the “easy part” of the game for Smyth with the technique used to hit the ball.
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The 24-year-old grew up playing Gaelic football in County Down and, as a goalkeeper, used to shoot long-range shots from the grass at the opposition’s posts.
Galiano said the side kick was a technique similar to hitting a Gaelic football, and that his job was to “find out what the players do best and use that to our advantage.”
“His experience in being able to kick the ball, it was kind of a natural swing,” Galiano added.
“We practiced side kicks on Fridays, Saturdays and at training camps, and that was something he did very well.
“As he explained to me, in Gaelic football it was a natural swing of how the ball was. He felt really good about it, so I said ‘let’s go for it’.”
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“You have to stay humble and hungry”
After the Saints waived regular kicker Blake Grupe, Smyth, who had been on the practice roster for 18 months, was in a shootout to play against the Dolphins against veteran Cade York.
Galiano said Smyth “proved he was ready” with his performance in the competition, and that he was “locked in and focused.”
The 48-year-old was also impressed with Smyth’s field goal attempt in the game in Miami, which he felt would have been good from 70 yards.
“He makes it really loud and that’s what you want,” he said.
“It is more difficult for the big guys to block, which is seen when they are lower.
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“The higher you put it, the less chance you have of it blocking, but one of the things that caused a lot of problems that we’ve been working on was when we were in California and it was a windy day.
“The further back you go, the wind can affect him a little more, so you have to change the way you kick the ball slightly. That’s another thing he has to get used to.”
After a successful debut with the Saints, Smyth will have another chance to impress against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.
But as Galiano warns, despite making the most of his opportunity, the hype is over and the focus is entirely on Tampa.
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Smyth’s family flew to Miami at the last minute after leaving his national team, and his NFL debut was celebrated in his hometown of Mayobridge over free pints at his local pub.
Admittedly, this is something Smyth had already addressed in an interview with BBC Sport NI about his self-imposed “24-hour rule” for putting any lingering emotions of a game behind him.
“There was a lot of intrigue and all that kind of stuff. That’s great, but I talked to him and it’s over,” Galiano added.
“We had a chance to enjoy that, but now we’re in Tampa and their next kick.
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“He’s got to stay humble, stay hungry, keep developing and do a good job that way for us.”