Geno Smith, the long-time back-up field general, has made his way to the Las Vegas Raiders with a little swagger. At 34 years of age, Smith becomes the oldest quarterback over the past two decades to throw for 350 passing yards in a game. He’ll soon be right up there with Derek Carr and Carson Palmer at the top of this list with a jaw-dropping 70% completion rate. As he prepares for the 2023 season, Smith believes this point has been a watershed in his career. For the first time, he’s entering a starting role as the “Plan A” in a different organization.
Smith signed a one-year prove-it deal to return to Seattle, where he’ll once again back up Wilson. His journey hasn’t just been propelled by resilience and determination. That was all Coach Pete Carroll needed to see, because he too saw something special in Smith, perhaps just as much as Smith saw it in himself. This mutual trust has played a significant role in Smith’s career trajectory, allowing him to showcase his abilities despite past challenges.
In Seattle, he beat out Drew Lock to win the starting job, and helped guide the team to five fourth-quarter comebacks a year ago. Dating back to 2022, Smith now has a combined ten fourth-quarter comebacks, showcasing his ability to thrive when the pressure is on. His confidence though is still his best asset, as it pushes him to perform at the highest level when the pressure is on.
Smith has long term goals with the Raiders that are just as lofty. He has ambitions of even greater success on the field, and he thinks he has at least seven more years of football remaining in him. His mental approach is the same as greats such as Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. They weren’t scared to express their cutthroat ambition to beat the stuffing out of everyone else.
“But that’s who I am. I mean, imagine Kobe Bryant. He spoke his mind about how he felt. Those are my idols.” – Geno Smith
As Smith moves on to Las Vegas, he’s not only looking forward, but looking back at all he’s seen and done. He was the Jets starter from 2013 to 2014, sporting an 11-19 record. Opponents in that span were able to rack up 5,571 yards, 25 touchdowns and 34 interceptions throwing against him. Through these challenges, he has not been discouraged by past failures and is eager to build on this new chapter.
Smith knows that’s not how he’s viewed around the league. He pointed to his more outspoken demeanor that he acknowledged may have gratefully offended some in the front office.
“Not my teammates, but I for sure felt like it rubbed people in the front office the wrong way because of the way I carry myself.” – Geno Smith
Counselor and poet His competitive spirit extends to pushing boundaries and expectations. He knows you have to be the aggressor on the field. It usually ends with him telling his coordinators to let him take care of the ball.
“I tell all my coordinators, ‘Man, put the ball in my hands. I don’t care what play you call, just put the ball in my hands and we’ll make it work.’” – Geno Smith
As he prepares for his first season with the team, Smith is working hard to help producers get results for the Raiders. While he knows the competition will be tough, he is committed to stepping up and meeting the challenge.
“They gotta beat us. That’s how I see it.” – Geno Smith
Geno Smith certainly has the confidence bank going for him, a loud belief equal parts talent and experience. Watch out AFC West… he’s coming with the Raiders! His journey is a microcosm of the larger American story all too commonly heard about grit and determination in professional sports.
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