The Las Vegas Raiders surprised much of the football world when they traded for 34-year-old quarterback Geno Smith in a blockbuster deal. While they didn’t sign him to an extension right away, they later agreed to a two-year, $75 million contract.
The Raiders’ quarterback situation had been a topic of speculation all offseason. They hold the sixth overall pick in the upcoming draft, but with a weak quarterback class, their options are limited. They also hired legendary head coach Pete Carroll, which sparked talk of a possible reunion with Russell Wilson. Instead, Carroll and the Raiders shocked many by reuniting with Smith instead.
New Raiders QB Geno Smith Can’t Stop Smiling
Smith is fired up about joining Carroll in Las Vegas. He had what was arguably his best season of the career in 2022, under Carroll, when they were both with the Seattle Seahawks.
After Seattle traded Wilson to the Denver Broncos, Smith became the starter. He had a standout year, even breaking Wilson’s single-season franchise passing record with 4,282 yards. He earned his first Pro Bowl selection and was named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year.
Recently, Smith appeared on NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football.” When asked how it felt to reunite with Carroll, he didn’t hold back.
“We got great history together. We did some pretty good things in Seattle together. I was with him for all of five years. He helped me turn my career around. Obviously, Seattle gave me an opportunity. Just the type of coach he is, he’s legendary. Who wouldn’t want to play for Pete Carroll? I grew up watching him, idolizing him. All of this is a dream come true for me.”
Most quarterbacks start to decline in their mid-30s, but Smith is still going strong. He followed up 2022 with another Pro Bowl in 2023 and had a solid campaign in 2024.
"Who wouldn't want to play for Pete Carroll"
Safe to say @GenoSmith3 is happy to be reunited in Vegas with his coach 🖤 #RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/xQ3h2Zda3a
— Good Morning Football (@gmfb)
In 2024, the Seahawks and Carroll agreed to part ways. Seattle hired Mike Macdonald, shifting from the league’s oldest head coach to its youngest.
While Smith said he had a strong relationship with Macdonald, he recognized the team was moving toward a youth movement. Without Carroll, Smith didn’t perform at the same level and reportedly called his former coach for advice and support during the season.
PFSN’s QB+ metric ranked Smith 15th overall in 2024 with a 77.6 grade (C+). He got off to a slow start but finished the year on a high note. He’s now viewed as a solid caretaker quarterback on a stacked roster.
Even though Seattle was moving in a new direction, there were no hard feelings. The Seahawks reportedly wanted to make sure Smith landed in a good spot. With Carroll now in Vegas, Smith gets another shot at chasing a Super Bowl.
