Some NFL careers travel a straight path. Quarterback Geno Smith’s has taken a few unexpected turns.
More than 13 years after the New York Jets selected him with the 39th overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, he finds himself back where his professional journey began.
This time, however, he returns as a seasoned veteran, a two-time Pro Bowler and one of the league’s most unlikely comeback stories.
Recently, the Jets offered fans an early look at their projected starting quarterback. Their social media team shared photos of Smith wearing the organization’s legacy green uniform:
For a player whose career has come full circle, the images carried a little extra significance.
Geno Smith returns to where it all began
When the Jets drafted Smith in 2013, expectations were high. He entered the NFL after a stellar college career with the West Virginia Mountaineers. There, he developed into one of the nation’s most productive quarterbacks.
During his final collegiate season, Smith led all FBS quarterbacks in touchdown passes and appeared destined for a lengthy NFL career. Things did not unfold as smoothly as many anticipated.
Smith’s first stint with the Jets was marked by inconsistency, coaching changes, and roster turnover. Eventually, his career became a journey through multiple organizations before he finally found some measure of stability with the Seattle Seahawks.
Then came 2022. Smith authored one of the league’s most memorable comeback seasons, earning NFL Comeback Player of the Year honors while leading all qualified quarterbacks in completion percentage.
Along the way, he delivered a quote that would become synonymous with his resurgence.
“They wrote me off, but I didn’t write back.”
The question that still matters most is whether or not the Jets are acquiring a player who still has that version of Geno Smith locked inside him. New York brought him back to provide leadership and stability at the most important position in sports. Offensive coordinator Frank Reich and quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave now carry the responsibility of helping him perform at the highest level possible.
There is reason for optimism. Smith has already demonstrated that he can overcome adversity and reinvent himself. Few quarterbacks have authored a second act as impressive as the one he delivered in Seattle.
The photos shared by the Jets offered a glimpse of what comes next. Smith looked comfortable. He looked confident. He looked every bit like an NFL franchise quarterback.
Of course, appearances only go so far.
The more important question will not be how Smith looks in Jets green. It will be whether he can still play at the level that once made him one of the NFL’s best stories. If the answer is yes, New York’s long search for stability at quarterback may finally have an answer.
This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: Jets share Geno Smith look in green and white uniform again
Reporting by Geoffrey A Knox, Jets Wire / Jets Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Geoffrey A Knox, Jets Wire | USA TODAY Network
