The NFL offseason is known for its surprises, but Geno Smith going back to the New York Jets stands out as one of the more significant moves in the 2026 offseason. Even former Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll said he had to laugh when he found out where his old quarterback was headed.
Pete Carroll on Geno Smith’s Return to the Jets
Carroll talked about Smith in his first interview since being let go by the Raiders, sharing his thoughts on the quarterback’s journey and the irony of Smith returning to the team where he started his career.
Carroll acknowledged that the reunion carried some humor, given Smith’s complicated history with the Jets.
“I had to chuckle a little bit because of the history and all,” Carroll said during an interview with ESPN.
Even though he laughed, Carroll made it clear he still respects Smith and believes the veteran quarterback can bounce back.
“I love talking about G,” Carroll answered. “I think I see him differently than a lot of people see him. I love him and appreciate him differently.”
Carroll also took some blame for Smith’s struggles in Las Vegas, saying the coaches could have done more to help him succeed.
“We should’ve coached him better,” Carroll told ESPN.
Smith was originally selected in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft and started for New York during his first two seasons. His tenure took a dramatic turn in 2015 when he suffered a broken jaw after a locker room altercation with linebacker IK Enemkpali, which effectively ended his run as the team’s starting quarterback.
After leaving the Jets, bouncing to the Giants, and then spending a year with the Chargers, Smith revived his career with the Seattle Seahawks in 2022. He completed 69.8% of his passes for 4,282 yards and 30 touchdowns. The season earned him a Pro Bowl selection and AP Comeback Player of the Year honors.
He followed that with 3,624 passing yards and 20 touchdowns in 2023, while leading Seattle to a 9-8 record. Seattle traded Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders in March 2025 for a third-round pick. The move reunited him with head coach Pete Carroll, but the season unraveled.
Smith went 2-13 as a starter and threw a league-high 17 interceptions. The Raiders finished 3-14, their worst record since 2006, and Carroll was fired.
PFSN NFL QB Impact score graded Smith at 68.6 in 2025. That ranked 34th among quarterbacks and marked a sharp drop from the 75.2 grade he posted with Seattle in 2024. The Jets are now betting a return to New York can spark another turnaround.
Really? going on 3.5 minutes of commercials and still no video. SHM off to find another site…