Geno Smith’s Final Ride? Raiders Stay the Course as Season Winds Down
With just two games left in a season that’s felt like a slow burn toward a reset, the Las Vegas Raiders appear set to ride it out with Geno Smith under center. Despite a year that’s been more frustration than fireworks, head coach Pete Carroll isn’t showing any signs of making a late-season quarterback switch.
And that’s not exactly surprising.
Carroll has been loyal to Smith all year. Even when the veteran quarterback was banged up, there was no pivot to Aidan O’Connell, Kenny Pickett, or rookie Cam Miller. According to longtime Raiders voice Lincoln Kennedy, that loyalty isn’t fading now.
“Pete Carroll’s not changing,” Kennedy said this week on the Locked on Raiders Squad Show. “He’s been loyal to Geno all season.
He’s not changing. Why change now?
This is your ride-or-die guy.”
It’s a move that speaks more to Carroll’s coaching DNA than it does to Smith’s performance. The former Pro Bowler has struggled to find his rhythm in Silver and Black, and the offense has sputtered because of it. Still, Carroll’s approach has been consistent: stay the course, finish strong, and let the chips fall where they may in the offseason.
But not everyone sees Smith sticking around beyond Week 18.
Co-host Q Myers didn’t mince words when assessing where things stand with the quarterback situation.
“The fact that we’re talking about this being his best performance since Week 1 - and he literally gave the Texans points - it tells you the kind of season he’s had,” Myers said. “It just hasn’t been what anyone expected when they made the trade with Seattle.
I thought he’d at least stabilize the position until they found their franchise guy. But to me, this is a one-and-done experience with Geno Smith.”
That sentiment is hard to argue. Smith hasn’t been the calming veteran presence the Raiders hoped for.
Instead, the offense has looked disjointed, inconsistent, and at times, completely out of sync. The turnovers have piled up, and the confidence - both from the fanbase and within the building - has clearly taken a hit.
And then there’s the contract.
Smith’s deal includes $18.5 million in guaranteed money for next season, but as Myers pointed out, that figure isn’t necessarily a roadblock. Teams like Denver and Miami have shown that moving on from a quarterback with money on the books is doable. If the Raiders decide to reset the position - and all signs point that way - the financials won’t be what holds them back.
One major wrinkle in all of this: Pete Carroll’s future.
If Carroll is let go after the season, Smith loses his biggest supporter in the organization. And with the fan base already sour on the veteran quarterback - especially after the infamous middle-finger moment in November - it’s tough to envision a scenario where Smith returns in 2026. That incident, more than any stat line or missed throw, seemed to define the disconnect between Smith and Raider Nation this year.
Still, there’s a chance for a respectable finish. A strong showing in the final two games could help Carroll leave on a better note, and give Smith a sliver of momentum heading into what’s likely to be a transitional offseason.
But let’s be honest: the Raiders are staring down a rebuild. And with the No. 1 overall pick within reach, any wins over the Giants or Chiefs could complicate that picture. Draft positioning matters - especially when you're eyeing the next face of the franchise.
So while the Raiders will roll with Geno Smith for now, the writing on the wall is clear. These next two games may not just be the end of the season - they may be the end of an era for both Smith and Carroll in Las Vegas.