Pete Carroll was fired in Las Vegas, Geno Smith was traded by the Raiders. Both teams had their worst season ever. Nevertheless, the coach has nothing but praise for Smith.

The New York Jets have brought Geno Smith back via trade – and his former coach Pete Carroll sees this as an opportunity for a strong rebound year. After a difficult 2025 NFL season, the 35-year-old quarterback is expected to return to his best form with the Las Vegas Raiders.

Smith was drafted by the Jets in 2013 and started 29 games in his first two years. After an injury (broken jaw in a team altercation), he lost his job and left the team.

From 2019 to 2023, he played under Pete Carroll with the Seattle Seahawks and threw for more than 4,200 yards in two of his three starting seasons. Carroll brought him to the Raiders in 2025, but the season was disappointing: The team finished the season with only three wins and 14 losses, and Carroll was fired. In Las Vegas, Smith led the league with 17 interceptions and was sacked 55 times, the latter mainly due to a weak offensive line. The only positive was the first game: 362 passing yards in the win against the New England Patriots.

Carroll takes the blame: “Should have coached him better”

This was followed by a series of four consecutive losses. Smith himself admitted that he had not played well and did not look for excuses. The Raiders also fired their offensive coordinator Chip Kelly after eleven games.

In an interview, Carroll took responsibility for the poor performance: “We should have coached him better.” He criticized the inadequate preparation, the lack of protection from the line, and the lack of upgrades in the draft and free agency. “The reason you get sacked so often is because you want to throw too much.”

Despite the problems, Carroll emphasized his high regard for Smith: “He’s an incredible quarterback.” He said he had already “fallen in love” with Smith as Russell Wilson’s backup because of his work ethic and competitive spirit. Carroll was positive about the trade back to the Jets (in exchange for a sixth-round pick in 2026 and a seventh-round pick): “If he believes New York is the best place for him, then I couldn’t support him more. I only want the best for him.” He expects Smith to surprise and rebound in New York – partly because of the historical connection. “I had to laugh a little.” Smith was originally drafted by the Jets in 2013.