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Despite leading the NFL in interceptions during a turbulent season with the Raiders, Geno Smith looks set to take the New York Jets to new heights in his second stint, according to his coach, at least.
While Smith’s reunion with the team that drafted him is widely viewed as a short-term answer to the team’s quarterback question, head coach Aaron Glenn suggested he is the right quarterback to end the Jets’ league-leading playoff drought.
“I just feel like he’s the guy that’s going to lead us to the promised land,” Glenn told reporters Tuesday at the NFL’s annual meeting in Arizona.
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New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn during a game against the Denver Broncos on Oct. 12, 2025, in London. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
The Jets won just three games last season and haven’t made the postseason since 2010. Smith returns after throwing 17 interceptions with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Smith had some success before moving to Las Vegas, where he earned a second consecutive Pro Bowl selection in 2023 with the Seattle Seahawks. After missing the playoffs in 2024, he was traded to the Raiders.
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Glenn acknowledged the ups and downs of Smith’s career.
“Look, I know he had his struggles,” he said. “I think a lot of quarterbacks have their struggles.
New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith passes the ball against the Baltimore Ravens during a game at MetLife Stadium on October 23, 2016 in East Rutherford, NJ (Al Pereira/Getty Images)
“But I do know this: He understands exactly what happened last year. I don’t want to get into it too much because obviously I wasn’t there with the Raiders. But I know there are some things that he knows he can fix. He’s to blame for some of them, but there are some things he knows he wants to get better at, and I’m looking forward to that.”
The 2027 NFL Draft quarterback class remains highly touted. However, Glenn doubled down on the present and his belief in Smith as “the perfect guy who fits exactly what we need to do” from an offensive standpoint.
Geno Smith (7) of the Las Vegas Raiders takes the field after halftime in a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Allegiant Stadium on January 4, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
“I think he’s going to do some damage because of the arm talent,” Glenn continued. “And man, he’s grown so much as far as his smarts, as far as IDs, as far as protection and stuff.”
After throwing 21 interceptions to 12 touchdowns in his rookie year, Smith matched his touchdown-to-interception ratio in 2014, throwing 13 in each category. A broken jaw suffered in an altercation with a teammate sidelined Smith for several weeks in 2015. After continued uneven play, he eventually lost his job permanently.
Glenn said the Jets considered Smith’s history before the trade, but concluded it would not be “a detriment to us as an organization.” He added that Smith welcomed the return, calling it a “full-circle moment”.
