RENTON — Geno Smith will return to MetLife Stadium on Sunday to face the Jets for the first time since his four seasons with the team from 2013 to 2016. While Smith has played the Jets twice in Seattle and faced the Giants in New York last season, this marks his first time back to the stadium where his career started.
Smith’s time with the Jets ended in controversy, especially after a 2015 locker room altercation led to a broken jaw, causing him to lose the starting quarterback job. Despite that, Smith holds no bitterness toward the team that drafted him. “I’ve always had tremendous love and respect for that organization,” he said. “They gave me a chance out of the gate, and there are a lot of great people there.” While many remember his Jets tenure for the dramatic ending, Smith focuses on the positive memories and the relationships he’s maintained with people in the organization.
What’s most notable, however, is how much Smith has changed since those years. Seahawks defensive lineman Leonard Williams, who was drafted by the Jets in 2015, noticed a significant shift in Smith’s character and play after he joined the Seahawks. “He’s flourished into a great player, and a great leader,” Williams remarked, emphasizing the growth Smith has undergone both personally and professionally.
Smith believes that his success in Seattle was always possible, even without the setbacks he faced in New York. The years spent as a backup allowed him to mature and evolve into the quarterback he is today.
But this Sunday isn’t about Smith’s redemption story. It’s about continuing the Seahawks’ momentum. With wins over the 49ers and Cardinals, Seattle is tied for first place in the NFC West at 6-5, and a victory over the 3-8 Jets is crucial to keeping that momentum as they head into a tough stretch of games.