Heading into the 2026 NFL season, the New York Jets may have finally found some stability at quarterback after acquiring veteran Geno Smith. As the news continues to circulate, head coach Aaron Glenn shared an encouraging message about the team’s new QB1.
Aaron Glenn Confirms Geno Smith as the Jets’ Starting Quarterback
On Sunday morning, Glenn, a second-year head coach for the Jets, met with the NFL Network to discuss the franchise’s reunion with Smith this offseason. The reporter began by asking, “What does it mean to have Geno back in the building?”
Glenn replied, “It means to have a bona fide starter come in and lead this offense to where it needs to go. Listen, he’s done it. I mean, those years in Seattle, when he was, I think, Comeback Player of the Year. Man, he was up for MVP early in the season. There’s no doubt in my mind that we brought a competent starter here to this team.”
The reporter followed up, clarifying, “Just to be clear Geno Smith is the starting quarterback?” to which Glenn responded, “No doubt about it, he’s our guy.”
Aaron Glenn on Geno Smith to the NFL Network this morning. pic.twitter.com/GESYr9lPLn
— Judy Battista (@judybattista) March 29, 2026
The Jets’ current quarterback room features the 35-year-old Smith, 2025 undrafted free agent Brady Cook, and former New England Patriot and Cleveland Brown Bailey Zappe.
While there is a possibility of the Jets selecting a rookie quarterback in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft, the veteran Smith is currently positioned to be under center in Week 1.
This past year, in his 13th NFL season and first with the Las Vegas Raiders, Smith’s production dipped. The former Pro Bowler threw 19 passing touchdowns to 17 interceptions, leading the league in interceptions while also taking 55 sacks.
BE AN NFL GM: PFSN’s Ultimate GM Simulator
According to PFSN’s metrics, Smith posted a 68.6 QB Impact Score, ranking 34th among all quarterbacks, his lowest finish since his final season as the Jets’ primary starter in 2014.
Then again, there is still some reason to believe Smith can help turn this Jets ship around. During his time as the Seattle Seahawks’ starter from 2022 to 2024, Smith was productive. He recorded two separate 4,000-yard passing seasons while throwing for 20 or more touchdowns in all three.
Additionally, across those seasons, he earned Pro Bowl honors twice, and as Glenn noted, was in MVP consideration early in 2022. Smith has proven in the past that, with strong supporting talent, he can lead an offense.
Now with the Jets, Smith will be playing behind a talented offensive line while also throwing to Garrett Wilson and relying on Breece Hall. The Jets will be a team worth monitoring as they aim to compete in the AFC East in 2026.
