Geno Smith is back in the New York Jets’ starting job, and he’s treating the second go-round like a fresh chance rather than a rerun.
Smith, who started his NFL career with the Jets in 2013, said returning to the organization means a lot after years away with the New York Giants, Los Angeles Chargers, Seattle Seahawks and Las Vegas Raiders. In his first stretch with New York, he played in 33 games, went 12-18 as a starter and threw 36 interceptions against 28 touchdowns, a run that ended with heavy boos from the fan base.
“First of all, it’s an honor to be back here and have the opportunity to be a part of this organization again, to lead this team, this young, talented group of guys who work extremely hard,” Smith said. "I find myself just looking forward to each and every day, coming to work and giving my all for these guys. It’s really special."
There’s no shortage of skepticism around the comeback. Some Jets fans aren’t exactly lining up to relive the past, and Smith’s 2025 season with the Raiders only added to the doubt. He led the NFL in interceptions last season, then finished with 3,025 passing yards, 19 touchdown passes and 17 picks while going 2-13 as a starter.
Still, inside the building, the tone is different. Garrett Wilson and offensive coordinator Frank Reich are already impressed with what Smith is bringing to the offense.
"He's so cerebral," Wilson said. "The first day when he had us tell the cadences he went through it and I was like 'Bro did you bring that with you from [Las Vegas] and Seattle?'
He was like 'No. That's coach Reich's stuff; I just learned it last night.'"
Reich, who has worked with plenty of quarterbacks over the years, said Smith stands out for how quickly he processes information and how locked in he stays.
"I swear he's got a photographic memory," Reich said. "[He] processes really fast.
His arm, the way he moves, his feet in the pocket, he's physically in his prime. He takes great care of himself and that's going to help this team."
That praise matters because Smith arrives in 2026 with a body of work that says plenty about who he’s been so far: 22,168 passing yards, 124 passing touchdowns and 89 career interceptions, along with a 42-56-0 record as a starter.
The noise outside the facility doesn’t seem to bother him, at least not according to Reich.
"This man is laser focused like people don't understand," Reich said. "He comes to work and he's locked in. I feel like the whole offense plays off of that, that's a really big deal."
Smith and the Jets open the 2026 season on the road against the Tennessee Titans, and for him, this could be the last real shot to settle in as an NFL starter. Smith, though, is framing it as a collective mission rather than a one-man test.
"It's not just me out there, it's all of us, so it doesn't just matter what I know, it's about what we know collectively," Smith said. "I think we have a room full of great minds and we're collaborating and working together."
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