Andre Szmyt
Szmyt with the Cleveland Browns in 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 25 – Cleveland Browns | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Position | Kicker | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Roster status | Active | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | September 26, 1998 Lake Forest, Illinois, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 200 lb (91 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||||||
| High school | Vernon Hills (Vernon Hills, Illinois) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| College | Syracuse (2017–2022) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 2023: undrafted | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||||||
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* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Andre Eric Szmyt (/ʃmɪt/ SHMIT;[1] born September 26, 1998) is an American professional football placekicker for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Syracuse Orange.
College career
Szmyt redshirted his true freshman year in 2017, and was named to the SU Athletic Director’s Honor Roll in the fall.[2]
In 2018, Szmyt became the first Syracuse kicker and third freshman to win the Lou Groza Award,[3] and was named a unanimous All-American, being the first since Dwight Freeney in 2001.[4] Szmyt also won the 2018 Vlade Award.[5] In 2018, Szmyt connected on 30 of 34 field goals, and hit all 61 extra points. He also kicked a season-high 54 yard field goal in a loss to Pittsburgh.
In the 2019 season, Szmyt was successful on 17 of 20 field goals, one of which was a 50 yard field goal in the beginning of the second quarter in a loss at Florida State. Against Wake Forest on the last week of the season, he connected on a 49 yard field goal with 44 seconds left until the Demon Deacons tied the game. In overtime he also kicked a 40 yard field goal in the 39-30 win (Syracuse got the score off a fumble return touchdown).
In the 2020 season, Szmyt successfully completed 9 of 11 field goal attempts in a shortened season.
In the 2021 season, Szmyt only successfully completed 9 of 14 field goal attempts.
Szmyt's performance was marred by coaching changes and his holders switching, but he returned to a better form when Bob Ligashesky took over as the special teams coordinator in 2022.[6] That season, he connected on 20 of 26 field goals and all 40 of his extra point attempts.
Professional career
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 0+5⁄8 in (1.84 m) |
200 lb (91 kg) |
30+1⁄4 in (0.77 m) |
9+1⁄4 in (0.23 m) | |||||||||
| All values from Syracuse's Pro Day[7] | ||||||||||||
Chicago Bears
Szmyt was signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent on May 4, 2023.[8] He was waived on August 8.[9]
St. Louis Battlehawks
On January 22, 2024, Szmyt signed with the St. Louis Battlehawks of the United Football League (UFL).[10] He re-signed with the team on August 21.[11]
Cleveland Browns
On December 24, 2024, Szmyt was signed to the Cleveland Browns practice squad.[12] He signed a reserve/future contract with Cleveland on January 6, 2025.[13] On June 4, Szmyt was waived by the Browns.[14] He was re-signed on June 26.[15] On August 26, Szmyt made the Browns' initial 53 man roster, beating out incumbent Dustin Hopkins for the kicking job.[16] On September 7, Szmyt missed an extra point to tie the game, and late in the same game missed a field goal that would have given the Browns a win against the Cincinnati Bengals in the 17–16 loss, causing some media and fans to criticize him.[17] However, 2 weeks later on September 21, Szmyt hit a game-winning 55-yard field goal to beat the Green Bay Packers in a 13–10 comeback win.[18]
References
- ^ "Browns sign K Andre Szmyt," ClevelandBrowns.com, Thursday 26 June 2025. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
- ^ "Andre Szmyt - Football". Syracuse University Athletics. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
- ^ "SYRACUSE'S SZMYT WINS GROZA AWARD". Atlantic Coast Conference. December 6, 2018. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
- ^ "SZMYT A UNANIMOUS ALL-AMERICAN". Syracuse University Athletic Department. December 12, 2018.
- ^ "Syracuse place-kicker Andre Szmyt wins Vlade Award". USA Today. December 4, 2018.
- ^ Alandt, Anthony (October 13, 2022). "A kicking camp, Bob Ligashesky helped Andre Szmyt return to 'old Andre'". The Daily Orange. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
- ^ "2023 NFL Draft Scout Andre Szmyt College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
- ^ Mayer, Larry (May 4, 2023). "Bears sign 14 undrafted free agents". ChicagoBears.com. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
- ^ "Andre Szmyt: Gets cut loose". CBSSports.com. August 8, 2023. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
- ^ "The UFL Agrees to Terms with 61 Players". UFLBoard.com. January 22, 2024. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
- ^ @UFL_PR (August 21, 2024). "The #UFL has announced the following transactions" (Tweet). Retrieved August 22, 2024 – via X (formerly Twitter).
- ^ "Browns sign K Andre Szmyt to practice squad". ClevelandBrowns.com. December 24, 2024.
- ^ "Browns sign nine to reserve/futures contracts". ClevelandBrowns.com. January 6, 2025.
- ^ "Browns sign WR Jaelen Gill". clevelandbrowns.com. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
- ^ "Browns sign K Andre Szmyt". clevelandbrowns.com. June 26, 2025. Retrieved June 27, 2025.
- ^ "Browns announce initial 53-man roster heading into 2025 season". clevelandbrowns.com. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
- ^ https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/nfl/bengals/2025/09/07/browns-kicker-andre-szmyt-misses-vs-bengals-point-after-fourth-quarter-field-goal/86025419007/
- ^ Reedy, Joe (September 21, 2025). "Andre Szmyt's 55-yard field goal as time expires rallies Browns to 13-10 victory over Packers". AP News. Retrieved November 16, 2025.