New Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith’s career arc is one of the NFL’s most improbable turnarounds — not just because of the production he’s posted in recent seasons, but because of how he got there.
By now, the story is familiar. Smith was drafted by the New York Jets in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft, handed a starting role as a rookie, and then quickly caught in the churn of organizational instability, turnover troubles, and unfortunate timing. His first two seasons included moments of promise — a live arm, athletic flashes — but also 34 interceptions to 25 touchdowns and more questions than answers.
Then, infamously, came the 2015 locker room altercation that left him with a broken jaw and effectively ended his starting run in New York. Over the next six years, Smith would start just five games total while bouncing between the Jets, Giants, Chargers, and finally the Seahawks. His reputation as a potential starter faded, replaced by the quiet, journeyman anonymity of a career backup.
But something unexpected happened during that stretch — something Pete Carroll believes changed everything.
How Six Years on the Sideline Helped Shape Geno Smith’s Late-Career Rise
“It’s worth mentioning,” Carroll said recently, “the guy sat for about six years. And in that time, No. 1, he didn’t get the wear and the tear, so that’s why he moves so well and he runs really well, still. But he took to the game in a manner that really was very impressive.”
Smith wasn’t just keeping a clipboard warm. According to Carroll, he approached every week — for years — as if the next snap was his. “He was able to, one day after another, take it like, ‘The very next play, I’m playing,’” Carroll said. “I watched him for four straight years when he wasn’t playing, and he just never missed that opportunity to be focused in that manner. The man is just ridiculously impressive.”
That mental approach paid off when Smith finally got another shot.
More News: Las Vegas Raiders Roll Out Big Culture Shift Based On Tom Brady’s Influence, According To Brady
After serving as Russell Wilson’s backup from 2019 to 2021, Smith became the Seahawks’ starter in 2022. Since then, he’s authored three winning seasons, earned two Pro Bowl nods, and re-established himself as one of the league’s most efficient and durable quarterbacks. He’s completed 68.3% of his passes over the last two years and has started 33 games during that span — after starting just five in the previous six years combined.
Las Vegas Raiders QB Isn’t A Usual 35-year-old QB
Even though Smith will turn 35 in October, Carroll believes that lost time is a gift, not a curse. “The guy sat for almost six years, and didn’t get the wear and tear,” he said again on Monday. “So that’s why he moves so well.”
In total, Smith has started only 83 games over his 11-year career — fewer than most longtime starters rack up in half that span. While many quarterbacks his age are managing joint pain and muscle fatigue, Smith looks physically fresh. Mentally, he’s sharper than ever.
“He’s durable. He’s tough. He’s a tremendous completion guy,” Carroll said. “And he finally played — look at what he’s done.”
Smith’s early career may have been defined by chaos, but his second act has been built on patience, perspective, and growth. And now, more than a decade after being drafted, Geno Smith looks poised to extend his career well beyond what anyone expected — except maybe Pete Carroll.
“We’re really, really fortunate to have him,” Carroll said. And for Smith, the wait may have been the very thing that made it all possible.