New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn issued a bold statement about his new QB, Geno Smith.
At the NFL's annual meeting, New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn issued a bold statement about his new QB, Geno Smith.
The Jets acquired Smith from the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason.
"I just feel like he's the guy that's going to lead us to the promised land," Glenn said. "Listen, I know he had his struggles. I think a lot of quarterbacks, they have their struggles. But I do know this: He understands exactly what happened last year. I don't want to get too far into that because I wasn't there, obviously, with the Raiders. But I do know that, man, there are some things that he knows he can correct. He's at fault on some of those, but there are some things that he knows that he's going to get better at, and I look forward to him doing that."
Smith's best seasons in the NFL came with the Seattle Seahawks in 2022 and 2023. He made the Pro Bowl in 2022 and 2023 and won the 2022 AP Comeback Player of the Year Award.
But because Smith's lone season with the Raiders was a disaster, many people believe the Jets traded for a "washed" QB.
"I think he's going to create some damage because of the arm talent," Glenn said. "And, man, he's grown so much as far as his smarts, as far as IDs, as far as protection and things like that."
Smith led the league in interceptions last season with 17 and went just 2-13. The Raiders parted ways with him after just one season.
In his first stint with the Jets, Smith went 12-18 as a starter. He threw for 5,962 yards, 28 touchdowns and 36 interceptions. It wasn't pretty.
However, Smith is older and wiser now and believes he's going to prove his critics in New York wrong.
Smith enters next season with 22,168 passing yards, 124 passing touchdowns and 89 career interceptions in the NFL. His starting record is 42-56-0.
"I just felt like I was back where I belonged, man. It felt special," Smith said. "When I was drafted there, my goal was to play my entire career for the Jets and one day retire as a Jet. And although it didn't go exactly as planned, somehow, some way we got back here and I'm eager to make things right if I can."
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