Geno Smith Says Reunion With Jets ‘Like a Movie Script’

Quarterback Geno Smith’s return to the New York Jets is like something out of a movie. He said so himself.

Smith was traded to the Jets from the Las Vegas Raiders on March 11. The trade reunites Smith with the team that drafted him in 2013. In an interview with NFL reporter Josina Anderson on “The Exhibit Show,” Smith likened his second act with the Jets to the second act of a movie.

“It’s super, this full circle moment for me, honestly,” he said. “I can remember my last touchdown was to Quincy Enunwa, right there in MetLife Stadium. We were playing the Ravens that day. I tore my ACL. And that began my journey, and it all led me back here, where it all started. And I thank God for the opportunity. I thank the Jets for the opportunity.”

Smith said he has spoken with head coach Aaron Glenn and is excited to be part of building the team’s culture.

“He’s got a real plan,” Smith said. “I believe in what he and the GM [Darren Mougey] and everyone over there [are] doing. They’ve got a real plan, and they’re ready to turn those things around. And just to be a part of that, I think it’s going to be special, and I think it’s kind of like a movie, you know, it’s kind of like a movie script.”

Smith was drafted by the Jets out of West Virginia with the 39th overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft. His tenure with the Jets was marred by early struggles. In his rookie season, he went 8–8 as the starter, completing 247 of 443 passes for 3,046 yards and 12 touchdowns, with 21 interceptions. He added 72 rush attempts for 366 yards and 6 TDs. He was sacked 43 times. In 2014, he started 13 games, completing 219 of 367 passes for 2,525 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 13 picks. He added 59 rushes for 238 yards and a rushing score. He was sacked 28 times. Smith was benched for three games during the 2014 season.

In 2015, Smith fractured his jaw during an altercation with a teammate during the preseason. By the time he returned, Ryan Fitzpatrick went 2–0 to start the season, so Smith was kept on the bench. He appeared in just 1 game that season, going 27 of 42 passing for 265 yards, 2 TDs, and a pick; he added 2 carries for 34 yards.

He filled in for Fitzpatrick in two games after Fitzpatrick was benched. He went just 8 of 14 passing for 126 yards, a TD, and an interception; he carried the ball twice for 9 yards; all before tearing his ACL in the aforementioned Ravens game.

He bounced around the league as a backup with the New York Giants and Los Angeles Chargers before landing with the Seattle Seahawks as the backup to Russell Wilson in 2019. When Wilson was traded to the Denver Broncos in 2022, Smith beat out Drew Lock for the starting job. He went 9–8 as a starter, completing 399 of 572 passes for 4,282 yards, 30 scores, and 11 picks; he also had 68 rushes for 366 yards and a score.

He led the Seahawks to a Wild Card playoff appearance, was named to the Pro Bowl, and won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year that season.

He had another Pro Bowl season in 2023, going 8–7 in 15 games, going 323 of 499 for 3,624 yards, 20 TDs, and 9 interceptions; he had 37 rushes for 155 yards and a score. He had the best statistical season of his career in 2024, going 10–7 as a starter, completing 407 of 578 passes for 4,320 yards, 21 TDs, and 15 picks. He had 53 rushes for 272 yards and 2 rushing scores.

He was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders in 2025, reuniting him with former Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll. He struggled mightily in the silver and black. He went just 2–13 as a starter, completing 302 of 448 passes for 3,025 yards and 19 touchdowns. He led the league in interceptions with 17, including 9 in the first 5 games of the year. He had 41 rushes for 109 yards and was sacked 55 times.

Smith said he was looking forward to redeeming himself after struggling last year.

“The way that last season went, and the fact that we weren’t able to win enough games, and I wasn’t able to put on the performance that I know I can put on,” he said. “I refuse to make any excuses for anything. Instead, I look inward. And I’ve been grinding my butt off behind the scenes. … I believe this next stretch of my career is going to be the best.”