Jets' Geno Smith 'eager to make things right' during second stint with club
Jets quarterback Geno Smith walks off the field after a win over the Falcons on Oct. 7, 2013 in Atlanta, Ga. Smith was making the fifth start of his career. Credit: Getty Images/Kevin C. Cox
When he left the Jets nearly 10 years ago, Geno Smith never imagined that he would be back leading their offense again.
The improbable reunion took place this week when the Jets reacquired Smith, their second-round pick in 2013, in a trade with Las Vegas. Smith, 35, is a much different person and player now and hopes to script a happy ending to this full-circle moment.
“When I was drafted there, my goal was to play my entire career for the Jets and one day retire as a Jet,” Smith said during Thursday’s Zoom call. “Just to come back now and to be a part of this organization again, the organization that gave me a chance coming out of West Virginia, and really, really believed in me.
“Although it didn’t go exactly as planned, somehow, someway we got back here, and I’m eager to kind of make things right if I can.”
The Jets sent the Raiders a sixth-round pick for Smith and received a seventh-rounder. Smith agreed to a restructured deal that will cost the Jets about $3.3 million this season.
Back in the Jets’ facility this week to take his physical, he was struck with a little nostalgia.
“It just felt like I was back where I belong, man,” Smith said. “It felt special. It really did.”
Smith, like so many Jets quarterbacks, didn’t live up to expectations. He started 30 games in four seasons with the Jets, leading them to a 12-18 record. Smith threw 28 touchdown passes and 36 interceptions in his first stint with the Jets. Since then, he has played for the Giants, Chargers, Seahawks and Raiders.
Smith made two Pro Bowls with Seattle in 2022 and 2023 but had a rough season for Las Vegas last year. He threw 19 touchdown passes and a league-high 17 interceptions.
Smith believes he will be much more effective this season and better than he was in Seattle, when he threw for more than 3,600 yards three times.
“I’m extremely confident but not arrogant,” he said. “I believe the Jets are getting a better player than I was in Seattle. I know that for a fact, in fact. So I just want to go out there and exhibit that and be that player on a daily basis.”
Smith will take over an offense that struggled to move the ball and score points last season with Justin Fields, Tyrod Taylor and Brady Cook playing quarterback.
One of Smith’s former Jets teammates, who also rejoined the team this week, is looking forward to seeing how Smith does with this challenge.
“I’ve just been amazed watching his journey and his maturity grow inside of this game and the leader that he is and the quarterback that he is,” said linebacker Demario Davis, who signed a two-year free-agent deal with the Jets. “Just being able to navigate the highs and lows and keep showing up just says a lot about his character, says a lot about who he is.
“I know there’s nobody that’s going to come in and work harder for this organization than him, and I’m just really excited to be a part of it.”
Smith said he’s excited about reconnecting with the fans and winning some of them back by doing what he couldn’t do in his first stint.
“We want to go out there and give our fans something to be proud of,” he said. “Put a great product on the field, be competitive, not just competitive, but win a lot of games, and also put ourselves in position to hoist that Lombardi at the end of the season.
“I know our fan base has been longing for that. If I can be the guy to get that done, that’s what I want to do.”
Wink speaks
Wink Martindale, appearing on “Talkin’ Ball with Pat Leonard,” said he was “close” to becoming the Jets’ defensive coordinator and indicated that Aaron Glenn didn’t have the final say.
“It was out of his hands,” Martindale said. “We’ll just leave it at that.”
There were reports that Jets owner Woody Johnson told Glenn to call the defense this season. Glenn refuted that at the Combine, saying it was his decision. Glenn hired Brian Duker as defensive coordinator.
Done deals
The Jets’ acquisition of defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat from Tennessee for edge rusher Jermaine Johnson is official . . . The Jets re-signed fullback Andrew Beck and backup offensive lineman Xavier Newman.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
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