What Happened to Geno Smith?
Geno Smith, an NFL quarterback, experienced a career resurgence with the Seattle Seahawks from 2022-2024, earning two Pro Bowl selections and Comeback Player of the Year. He was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders in March 2025, where he had a challenging 2025 season, leading to his release in March 2026, making him a free agent.
Quick Answer
Geno Smith was traded from the Seattle Seahawks to the Las Vegas Raiders in March 2025. After a difficult 2025 season with the Raiders, where he threw for 3,025 yards, 19 touchdowns, and a league-worst 17 interceptions in 15 starts, he was released by the team on March 6, 2026. Smith is currently a free agent, exploring options to continue his NFL career, potentially as a bridge quarterback or high-end backup.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline13 events
Drafted by New York Jets
Geno Smith was selected by the New York Jets in the second round, 39th overall, of the 2013 NFL Draft after a successful college career at West Virginia.
Rookie Starter for Jets
Smith started his rookie season as the Jets' quarterback, throwing for 3,046 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Joins New York Giants
After being released by the Jets, Smith signed with the New York Giants, serving as a backup.
Signs with Seattle Seahawks
Smith joined the Seattle Seahawks, initially serving as a backup to Russell Wilson for several seasons.
Seahawks Starting QB & Comeback Player of the Year
Following Russell Wilson's trade, Smith became the Seahawks' starter, had a breakout season, led the NFL in completion percentage, and was named NFL Comeback Player of the Year and a Pro Bowler.
First Playoff Start
Smith made his first career playoff start with the Seahawks against the San Francisco 49ers in the Wild Card round.
Second Consecutive Pro Bowl Selection
Smith was named to his second consecutive Pro Bowl as an injury replacement for the 2024 Pro Bowl Games.
Career-High Passing Yards with Seahawks
Smith threw for a career-high 4,320 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2024, though the Seahawks missed the playoffs.
Traded to Las Vegas Raiders
The Seattle Seahawks traded Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders for a 2025 third-round draft pick, reuniting him with former coach Pete Carroll.
Signs Extension with Raiders
Smith signed a two-year, $75 million contract extension with the Las Vegas Raiders, including $66.5 million guaranteed.
Challenging Season with Raiders
Smith started 15 games for the Raiders, throwing for 3,025 yards, 19 touchdowns, and a league-worst 17 interceptions, as the team finished 3-14.
Released by Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders announced their intention to release Geno Smith, saving $8 million in cap space before an additional $8.5 million in guaranteed salary would vest.
Current Status: Free Agent
As of today, Geno Smith is a free agent, actively seeking a new team for the upcoming NFL season, with reports linking him to teams like the Vikings and Dolphins.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Geno Smith's NFL journey has been marked by significant highs and lows, beginning when he was drafted by the New York Jets in the second round (39th overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft. He started his career as the Jets' quarterback for two inconsistent seasons before being benched and eventually released in 2016. Smith then spent several years as a backup quarterback for the New York Giants (2017) and Los Angeles Chargers (2018) before joining the Seattle Seahawks in 2019.
His career took a dramatic turn in 2022 when he became the Seahawks' starting quarterback after the trade of Russell Wilson. Smith had a breakout season, leading Seattle to the playoffs, achieving the highest completion percentage in the league, and earning NFL Comeback Player of the Year and his first Pro Bowl honors. He continued his strong performance with the Seahawks through the 2023 and 2024 seasons, securing a second Pro Bowl selection in 2023 and an injury-replacement Pro Bowl appearance in 2024.
In a significant move, Smith was traded from the Seattle Seahawks to the Las Vegas Raiders in March 2025 for a 2025 third-round draft pick, reuniting him with former Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, who had joined the Raiders. Following the trade, Smith signed a two-year, $75 million extension with the Raiders, including $66.5 million guaranteed. However, his 2025 season with the Raiders proved challenging. Playing behind a struggling offensive line and with a lack of consistent skill position options, Smith threw for 3,025 yards in 15 starts, with 19 touchdowns and a league-worst 17 interceptions. The Raiders finished the season with a 3-14 record, and head coach Pete Carroll was fired.
The consequences of the difficult 2025 season led to a swift change. On March 6, 2026, the Las Vegas Raiders announced their intention to release Smith at the start of the new league year on March 11, barring a trade. This move saved the Raiders $8 million in salary cap space, as an additional $8.5 million in guaranteed salary for Smith would have vested on March 13. Smith expressed his reaction on social media, posting "God is the GREATEST THANK U LORD." As of March 10, 2026, Geno Smith is a free agent. Analysts suggest he could be a target for quarterback-needy teams as a bridge starter or a high-end backup, with potential landing spots including the Minnesota Vikings or Miami Dolphins.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Geno Smith made different choices?