In his first stint with the New York Jets, quarterback Geno Smith put forth middling results both on and off the field.

His 12-18 record as a starter in New York wasn’t nearly as bad as other starting quarterbacks the team has had since, but it was hardly the only concern for the former second-round pick.

Things have changed for Smith since his final game as a member of the Jets during his first stint. Now, after being shipped back to New York, he’s prepared for a second chance with the organization that drafted him.

Smith believes things are about to be much different than his first run in Florham Park.

Smith honored for second chance with Jets

There aren’t many quarterbacks who could post a losing record, throw more interceptions than touchdowns, get into a locker room brawl with a teammate, and still get a second chance with the organization.

Smith is in rare territory. But it’s not as if he hasn’t earned it.

The mistakes Smith made in his early twenties have transformed him into the kind of leader and teammate an organization like New York is desperate for.

Smith showed his newfound maturity when speaking to reporters Thursday evening, highlighting just how happy he was to get a second chance.

“I was just honored, really, you know, for coach Glenn and everyone over there to even consider me,” Smith said. “What an honor to be considered to be the quarterback of the Jets again and to walk back into that building.”

Some analysts questioned the Jets’ decision to add Smith at all this year. He is, after all, coming off a year where he led the league in interceptions and was benched as the Las Vegas Raiders claimed the top overall pick in the 2026 draft.

But for what it’s worth, a Super Bowl-winning coach like Pete Carroll has consistently gone to bat for the veteran quarterback, saying Smith wasn’t the one at fault for Vegas’ misery.

“I take a lot of responsibility in that,” Carroll told ESPN Thursday when discussing what went wrong in Las Vegas. “We didn’t prepare him well enough in the offseason, even though he looked great, and we felt we had everything lined up. It was very, very disappointing for us both.”

Smith will get a chance to prove his former coach right. A change in expectations may help him make it happen.

Changing expectations

Following a two-year run as New York’s starter, Smith spent the next seven seasons as a backup for the Jets (2015-16), Giants (2017), Chargers (2018), and Seahawks (2019-21).

His goal? Learn to be an NFL quarterback.

That’s precisely what he did.

Smith resurrected his career in Seattle, replacing Russell Wilson. Across three years as the Seahawks’ starter, Smith posted a 27-22 record while tossing 71 touchdowns to 35 interceptions.

He believes his year-long struggle with the Raiders was nothing more than an aberration.

“I believe the Jets are getting a better player than I was in Seattle,” Smith said. “So, I just want to go out there and exhibit that and be that player on a daily basis and be consistent, and just put our team in the best position to win games.”

Even after leading the league with 17 interceptions last year, Smith has a chance to enter the 2026 season as a starting quarterback for the fifth straight year.

The now-35-year-old quarterback believes each experience in the last few years can help him be even better for his second run with the Jets.

“Experience is going to be your best professor, and I’ve had a ton of experience since my last pass with the Jets,” Smith said. “You want to continue to learn and continue to get better and try and get better as you go and continue to grow, and so, hopefully I can continue to learn from the guys in Florham Park.”

New York is hoping the Geno Smith they get will be closer to the player who made two Pro Bowls in Seattle, and not the one who struggled with the pressure of being a starting quarterback so early in his career.

If he can get back to his high level of play, the Jets may very well have found a quarterback to rely on.