Former Jets QB Geno Smith asks to ‘hold back on judging’ following arrest

Geno Smith comments on arrest

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith was arrested on suspicion of DUI early Monday morning following the Seahawks’ final game the day prior. He was released later that day and even attended Seattle’s end-of-season meetings according to Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll.

In response to news of his arrest surfacing, Smith released a tweet.

Being arrested brings a taint onto the reputation that is impossible to undo, no matter what really happened.
I’m asking all of you to hold back on judging me the same as you would do for a friend or family member.
I’ll have more to say down the road
& ask that you bare with me.

— Geno (@GenoSmith3) January 11, 2022

“Being arrested brings a taint onto the reputation that is impossible to undo, no matter what really happened,” Smith wrote.

The arrest is the first for Smith, who has stayed out of trouble for his entire career (aside from an incident involving I.K Enemkpali with the Jets, but that’s a whole different story).

Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll didn’t have much to add, other than “We have to let his people handle all that.”

Pete Carroll on Geno Smith's arrest on suspicion of DUI early this morning: "We have to let his people handle all that. He was in the [team] meeting today with us." Carroll said he didn't have anything more to say on the matter. https://t.co/L6f29K2bfn

— Brady Henderson (@BradyHenderson) January 11, 2022

In 2013, the New York Jets drafted Smith out of West Virginia with the 39th pick in the NFL draft. Ultimately, Smith failed to find success in New York, leading him to depart following the 2016 season.

Smith, now a 31-year old veteran, has managed to find himself a nice career as a backup since leaving the Jets. He spent time with the New York Giants and Los Angeles Chargers before joining the Seahawks.

Since moving on from the Jets, Smith hasn’t gotten much action during the regular season. Up until 2021, he had only started one game. That game came in 2017 for the New York Giants due to the benching of Eli Manning, which broke Manning’s starts streak at 210 games.

From 2018 to 2020, Smith started zero games in his time with Los Angeles and Seattle. That changed in 2021, however, when Seahawks starter Russell Wilson suffered a finger injury in Week 5 that forced Smith onto the field.

Smith would play in four games for the Seahawks this season, starting three, completing 65-of-95 passes for 702 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception. In his four appearances, the Seahawks went 1-3, which unintentionally helped the Jets because they own Seattle’s first-round pick.

Smith will be an unrestricted free agent in March, and if his legal issues are sorted out, he will likely be someone multiple teams are interested in signing.