Geno Smith says he and Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll have “unfinished business” to attend to following his trade from the Seattle Seahawks.
Smith was dealt to the Raiders last month in exchange for a third-round pick, bringing to an end a six-year stay in Seattle in which he revitalized his career. He subsequently signed a two-year, $75 million extension last week.
The former second-round pick of the New York Jets was the Comeback Player of the Year under Carroll in the 2022 season, having ascended to the starting role after the trade of Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos.
He helped Seattle to a play0ff berth that season, though the Seahawks fell short of the postseason in 2023, Carroll’s final year of a decorated spell.
Though the Seahawks went 10-7 in 2024 under Mike MacDonald, Seattle again missed the playoffs and could not agree to terms on an extension with Smith.
Sam Darnold was signed as his replacement after the trade to the Raiders, but it’s a case of back to the future for Smith as he moves forward with the coach who gave him a second chance after failed stints with the Jets, New York Giants and Los Angeles Chargers.
“Initially, when I thought this was a possibility, coach Carroll alone drew the interest here,” Smith told a press conference. Getting to meet [general manager] John [Spytek] and talk to Tom Brady, I saw myself aligning with that.
“I think there is unfinished business. When people think of my story, Carroll is a part of that. He gave me an opportunity when no one would. I told him I’ll run through a wall for him.”
Though he is now respected as one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL having shed his previous reputation following the disappointment of his time with the Jets, Smith still feels the desire to continue to prove himself each day as he prepares for the challenge of helping turning around a Raiders franchise that has not won a playoff game since the 2002 season.
“I’m still that same guy that had to fight, scratch and claw for the opportunity,” Smith added.
“That’ll never leave me. I just feel I’m one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL. I wanna prove it to my teammates and when that product goes out there on Sunday, that I’m one of the best.”
