Carroll Confident in Geno Smith’s Resurgence with the Jets

Pete Carroll Analyzes Geno Smith’s Return to the Jets

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. – Former NFL coach Pete Carroll, who developed a close relationship with Geno Smith, shared his impressions of the quarterback’s return to the New York Jets. Carroll, visibly amused, admitted that his first reaction was a smile upon learning of Smith’s transfer to the Jets, recalling the shared history. “I had to laugh a little at the story and everything,” Carroll said. Carroll praised Smith, predicting that he will recover from his last season and surprise in his second stint with the Jets, who acquired him via a draft pick trade. The former coach, who was with the Las Vegas Raiders, took responsibility for Smith’s challenges during his time with the team, stating that “we should have coached him better”. Carroll, who maintained a low profile after his season with the Raiders, broke his silence due to his affection for Smith.

“I love talking about G. I think I see him differently than a lot of people do. I love him and appreciate him differently,” Carroll commented.

Pete Carroll

Carroll, who coached Smith on the Seattle Seahawks from 2019 to 2023, had signed him hoping to revive his success in Seattle. However, the season was complicated, with Smith leading the league in interceptions and sacks.

“He’s a phenomenal quarterback, he really is,” Carroll affirmed. “He had a fantastic preseason with us, and in the first game, he had a great game. It was the perfect moment for us. Then, we just faltered. We didn’t do well enough, in training. We should have prepared him better for the things that happened, and that wouldn’t have happened. I take a lot of responsibility for that.”

Pete Carroll

Smith got off to a good start with 362 yards in the win against the New England Patriots in the first week, but interceptions increased and the team suffered a losing streak. “He had a very miserable start, and it wasn’t just him. It was the whole thing. We just didn’t work well at first, and he fell behind from the start,” Carroll explained. Carroll referred to an incident in which Smith reacted to Raiders fans. Carroll is confident that Smith can replicate his success in Seattle, where he surpassed 4,200 yards in two of his three seasons as a starter. However, the Raiders’ offensive line protection was poor, leading Smith to make bad decisions.

“They killed us, they killed us,” Carroll said. “Our offensive players, for a couple of years, we were killed. We needed to improve that more than we did. It didn’t happen in the draft, and it didn’t happen in the offseason.”

Pete Carroll

The Jets, looking for a new starter, obtained Smith in exchange for a sixth-round pick in 2026 and a seventh-round pick in 2026. Smith, 35 years old, acknowledged that he didn’t play well in Las Vegas, but highlighted the importance of Carroll. “That man is special, a Hall of Fame coach and a Hall of Fame person, through and through,” Smith said. Carroll revealed that he “fell in love” with Smith during his three seasons as Russell Wilson’s backup, highlighting his work ethic and competitiveness. Now, Smith returns to the team that drafted him in 2013, where he started 29 games before losing his position. “If he found that [New York] was a good place for him and wanted to do it, and it was part of the decision, then I couldn’t support him more,” Carroll said. “I love him and want the best for him. He deserves it. He worked very hard to get where he is.”