Saints Release Daniel Carlson and Promote Charlie Smyth to Kicker

Charlie Smyth Takes Over Kicking Duties for New Orleans

The New Orleans Saints are making a significant change to their special teams unit heading into this week’s matchup. On Wednesday, coach Kellen Moore confirmed that Charlie Smyth will handle the kicking duties, officially filling the vacancy created by the team’s decision to release veteran kicker Daniel Carlson on Tuesday. NBC Sports reported that Smyth, who has been working with the team as a member of the practice squad, is set to step into the role immediately.

The move comes after a difficult seven-game stretch for Carlson in his inaugural season with the Saints. During that span, he connected on only 8-of-12 field goal attempts. The primary issue for the coaching staff appears to be a lack of reliability in long-distance scenarios; all four of Carlson’s misses occurred on kicks from 50 yards or further. This included a 52-yard attempt that sailed wide during the fourth quarter of the team’s Week 7 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Paris.

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Kellen Moore addressed the transition during a video briefing with reporters on Wednesday, acknowledging the difficulty of parting ways with a veteran player while emphasizing the necessity of the decision. “Yeah, Charlie will kick this week,” Moore said, according to the NBC Sports report. “Tough decisions. Daniel, he’s made some really good kicks for us. I think just the consistency thing. Just felt like this was the best thing for our football team moving forward. These things are never easy, but Charlie’s done this for us back in the last year, so he’ll be ready to go.”

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For the Saints, the decision to pivot to Smyth is not a leap into the unknown. The Northern Ireland native previously saw action in six games for New Orleans during the 2025 season, where he converted 12-of-16 field goal attempts. By opting for a kicker with established familiarity within the organization, the coaching staff is clearly prioritizing a known quantity over the statistical volatility they experienced through the first seven weeks of the current season.

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In the high-stakes environment of the NFL, the margin for error is razor-thin. Field position and scoring efficiency often dictate the outcome of games decided by a single possession, a reality highlighted by the Saints’ recent struggles in close-game scenarios.

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Whether Smyth can provide the consistency the Saints were lacking remains the primary question as they look to move forward for the remainder of the season.

For now, the kicking job belongs to the Northern Ireland native, and the team’s success in upcoming matchups will hinge heavily on his ability to find the uprights when the game is on the line.