In a twist of fate that only the NFL could script, Geno Smith is heading back to the New York Jets, the team that first took a chance on him in the 2013 draft. This move comes after a rocky season with the Las Vegas Raiders, where Smith was reunited with his former coach, Pete Carroll. Unfortunately, the reunion didn’t yield the success the Raiders had hoped for, culminating in a disappointing 3-14 record and Carroll’s subsequent dismissal.
Carroll, in his first interview post-firing, shared his deep admiration for Smith with ESPN’s Rich Cimini. “I see him differently than most,” Carroll expressed, emphasizing his appreciation for Smith’s talents and character.
The season’s struggles, according to Carroll, weren’t due to a lack of effort from Smith. Instead, he pointed to the coaching staff’s failure to adequately prepare the quarterback for the challenges they faced.
“He’s a phenomenal quarterback,” Carroll said. “We just didn’t set him up for success as we should have.”
Carroll didn’t shy away from critiquing the Raiders’ front office either, highlighting the inadequate protection Smith received from the offensive line. “We got killed up front,” he lamented, underscoring the need for a stronger line that never materialized during the draft or offseason.
Despite a change in offensive strategy mid-season-firing Chip Kelly and bringing in Greg Olson-the Raiders couldn’t turn the tide. Smith ended the season with a completion rate of 67.4 percent, throwing for 3,025 yards, 19 touchdowns, and a league-high 17 interceptions over 15 games.
Reflecting on the tumultuous season, Carroll acknowledged that Smith didn’t fully benefit from their collaboration in Las Vegas. Yet, he remains optimistic about Smith’s potential resurgence with the Jets.
“If New York is where he wants to be and he sees the opportunity, I couldn’t be happier for him,” Carroll stated. “He’s worked incredibly hard, and he deserves every bit of success coming his way.”
As Smith embarks on this new chapter, fans will be watching closely to see if he can reignite his career where it all began, in the Big Apple.