Over the past few seasons, Geno Smith, who will be the New York Jets’ starting quarterback in 2026, has established a clear ceiling and floor.
From 2022-24 with the Seattle Seahawks, he was a two-time Pro-Bowler while developing into one of the best deep passers in the sport. What he showcased during his time in Seattle was a level of quarterback play Jets fans haven’t seen in a long time.
Then, in 2025, he hit rock bottom with the Las Vegas Raiders, steering them to just two wins while leading the league in interceptions (17). However, there were a multitude of factors outside his control that led to such a poor overall season.
Entering the 2026 season and his second stint with the Jets, not only does Smith expect to return to his Seahawks level of play, but he also expects to be even better.
“Yeah, I’m way better than I was back then, even those Pro Bowl years,” he told NFL Network’s Judy Battista. “And, you know, sometimes the stats don’t always tell the story. I’ve gotten better in the last two seasons as well. And, you know, for me, it’s about getting better every single day, not looking too far ahead or too far behind. And, you know, I just focus on what’s going on today and, you know, leading this team today and being the best that I can be.”
As we recently broke down, the scheme fit is there. Smith’s strengths perfectly align with offensive coordinator Frank Reich’s play-calling tendencies, along with the strong suits of his WR1, Garrett Wilson.
If he is able to reach the level of play he believes he can and has showcased in the past, he can deliver the best season by a Jets QB in over a decade and put New York in a position to make a wild-card push.
