Geno Smith is a Las Vegas Raider — signed and sealed after the Raiders acquired him from the Seattle Seahawks for a 2025 third-round pick. It’s a reunion for Smith and Raiders head coach Pete Carroll, who helped revive and reshape Smith’s career during their five years together in Seattle.
But Smith’s sixth season with the Seahawks didn’t go smoothly.
How Pete Carroll Helped Steady Geno Smith Through Stormy 2024
Before Smith reunited with Carroll in Las Vegas, the former Seahawks coach was already guiding him through one of the most challenging seasons of his career. Frustrated by a shifting depth chart and an uncertain future in Seattle, Smith leaned on the man who once believed in him most — calling Carroll for advice, clarity, and support even after their official coach-player relationship had ended.
“I would call him whenever I got frustrated,” Smith told SI’s Albert Breer. “He talked me through things, and he still coached me. And I think that’s what makes him such a special man, is that he was coaching me even when he wasn’t my head coach.”
Before the season began, Smith said Seattle management sat him down and made it clear the team was leaning into a youth movement sparked by the blockbuster Russell Wilson trade. He told Sports Illustrated he saw the writing on the wall and reached out to Carroll for guidance.
“A lot of the things that he was telling me, a lot of conversations we had really kept me steady throughout the season and kept my head on straight. Because, again, man, this is a team that I gave everything I had to … Coach Carroll, man, is a special guy and a special coach.” And one who was there when Smith needed him most.
“It was very frustrating last year, because as a team, we set goals for ourselves, and we didn’t achieve those goals.”
Smith still put together a solid 2024 season, but adapting to a new offense and coaching staff proved challenging. He threw for 4,320 yards and 21 touchdowns but saw his interceptions rise from nine in 2023 to 15 in 2024, which factored into him missing a third straight Pro Bowl appearance. The Seahawks finished 10-7 and missed the playoffs. Smith took the team’s performance — and his role in it — personally.
“And being a part of the team, being a quarterback, I take that right on my shoulders. And I feel like that’s my responsibility to make sure that stuff happens. And we weren’t able to reach our goals, weren’t able to get to the playoffs.”
“That’s the ultimate goal, to give yourself a chance to go out there and win a championship. And that’s what frustrated me the most. And then, obviously, not having real security there, not feeling like you’re really a part of the future plans. There’s a lot to think about.”
Now, Smith is in a spot to turn things around — for himself and for the Raiders. He’s somewhere he’s wanted, with a head coach who made it clear he’s “the man,” and with the full backing of the Las Vegas organization. If there’s a place to get his mojo back, it’s here.