1. Geno Smith played college football for the West Virginia Mountaineers, leading them to multiple bowl games, breaking numerous passing records, and garnering multiple awards before being selected by the New York Jets in the second round of the 2013 NFL draft.
Geno Smith then spent time as a backup for the New York Giants and Los Angeles Chargers before unexpectedly making a career resurgence as the Seattle Seahawks' starting quarterback in 2022, earning his first Pro Bowl selection, having his first winning record and playoff berth as a starter, leading the league in completion percentage, and ultimately winning the Comeback Player of the Year award.
Geno Smith would remain the Seahawks' starting quarterback for the next two seasons before being traded to the Raiders in 2025.
Geno Smith was born to high school students Eugene Geno Smith Jr.
Geno Smith's great-uncle, Danny Smith, was a record breaking All-American hurdler at Florida State, and his cousin Mel Bratton was a star running back at Miami in the mid-1980s.
Geno Smith was admitted to Norland Middle School's magnet program, which dedicated two hours per day to arts instruction.
Geno Smith was named second-team all-Broward County as an athlete for 2007.
Geno Smith was a first-team all-state selection in Florida Class 6A and a Parade All-American.
Geno Smith was the No 1 rated player in Broward County according to the Miami Herald and South Florida Sun Sentinel, and finished No 2 in the voting for Mr Florida.
Geno Smith finished his career as the third-best passer in Broward County history, and was named to the ESPN Top 150 prospects list.
Geno Smith chose to attend West Virginia over offers from Florida State, South Florida, Boston College, and Alabama.
Geno Smith attended West Virginia University, where he played for the West Virginia Mountaineers football team from 2009 to 2012.
Geno Smith was an English major during his time at West Virginia.
Geno Smith saw some action his freshman year as the backup behind senior Jarrett Brown.
Geno Smith led the first drive from the Mountaineers' 4-yard line.
Geno Smith completed a pass to wide receiver Jock Sanders in the back of the end zone for a two-point conversion.
Geno Smith finished the game completing 32 of 45 passes for 316 yards and a touchdown to go along with 14 carries for 13 yards.
Geno Smith won his first Big East Offensive Player of the Week for this performance.
Geno Smith completed 14 of 29 pass attempts for 119 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception to go along with five carries for 10 yards.
Geno Smith won his second Big East Offensive Player of the Week for this performance.
Geno Smith finished his sophomore season completing 241 of 372 passes for 2,763 yards, 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions to go along with 106 carries for 217 yards.
Geno Smith tied the record that was set in 2007 by Brian Brohm of the Louisville Cardinals.
Geno Smith's 401 passing yards broke Tom Brady's Orange Bowl record of 396 that he set in the 2000 Orange Bowl.
Geno Smith became the Big East single-season passing leader with 4,379 yards, breaking Brian Brohm's mark that he set in 2007.
Geno Smith finished the season with 4,205 passing yards, 42 touchdowns, and six interceptions to go along with 66 carries for 151 yards and two touchdowns.
Geno Smith received an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine where his performance was well received by scouts who highlighted his athleticism and strong arm but noted that his ball placement needed improvement.
Geno Smith was widely regarded as one of the top prospects alongside EJ Manuel of Florida State.
Geno Smith was in attendance for the first round of the draft as many analysts and scouts expected him to be taken that night.
However, Geno Smith was not selected, and EJ Manuel was the lone quarterback taken in the first round.
Geno Smith declined to be interviewed by ESPN afterwards and originally planned to return home but later decided to attend the second day of the draft.
Several league executives alleged Geno Smith did not handle the draft process in a professional manner, which caused him to fall out of the first round, while analysts pointed to his late-season decline as a senior at West Virginia, which exposed his flaws, as the primary reason.
Geno Smith fired his agency, Select Sports Group, upon the completion of the draft and sought new representation.
Geno Smith signed with Roc Nation Sports on May 22,2013, with Kimberley Miale serving as his representative.
Geno Smith worked out in his home state of Florida during the offseason, prompting questions as to whether or not he had spurned Sanchez by not attending Sanchez's Jets West summer camp in California.
On July 22,2013, Geno Smith signed a four-year, $5 million contract with approximately $690,000 in workout bonuses.
Geno Smith made his professional debut on August 9,2013, in the first preseason game against the Detroit Lions.
Geno Smith completed 6-of-7 passes for 47 yards but left the game due to an ankle injury in the second quarter.
Geno Smith started the Jets' third preseason game against the New York Giants completing 16 of 30 passes for 199 yards, a touchdown, and three interceptions.
Geno Smith was named the team's starting quarterback after Sanchez suffered a shoulder injury against the Giants.
Geno Smith became the first rookie quarterback in franchise history to throw for 300 or more yards in a game.
Geno Smith completed all four of his passes on the Jets' final drive, allowing Nick Folk to kick the game-winning 43-yard field goal.
Geno Smith was named American Football Conference Offensive Player of the Week and Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week for his performance.
Geno Smith struggled during this stretch as he failed to score any points and committed eight turnovers; he was benched in favor of Simms against Buffalo and Miami leading coach Rex Ryan to be noncommittal in starting Geno Smith the rest of the year.
Geno Smith showed gradual improvement as the Jets won three of their final four games.
Geno Smith finished the game completing 15 of 28 passes for 167 yards, a touchdown, and interception.
Geno Smith finished his rookie year with 3,046 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 21 interceptions to go along with 72 carries for 366 yards and six touchdowns in 16 games and starts.
Geno Smith was named the starter to begin the 2014 season.
Geno Smith finished his second professional season with 2,525 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions to go along with 59 carries for 238 yards and a touchdown in 14 games and 13 starts.
Geno Smith suffered a fractured jaw after Enemkpali punched him in the face.
Two days later, Geno Smith underwent surgery on his fractured jaw.
Geno Smith completed 27 of 42 passes for 265 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception to go along with two carries for 34 yards.
Geno Smith finished the game completing four of six passes for 31 yards and an interception.
Geno Smith was placed on injured reserve on October 26,2016.
Geno Smith signed with the Seattle Seahawks on May 15,2019.
Geno Smith competed with Paxton Lynch for the backup job behind Russell Wilson.
Geno Smith was released on August 31,2019, along with Lynch, but was re-signed the next day, earning the backup job.
Geno Smith saw no action during his first season with the team.
Geno Smith completed four of five passes for 33 yards, leading the Seahawks to a field goal on the second of his two drives.
Geno Smith re-signed with the Seahawks for a third season on April 22,2021.
Geno Smith made his first appearance of the 2021 season in Week 5 against the Rams after Russell Wilson left the game with a finger injury.
Geno Smith was announced the starter after Wilson was placed on injured reserve.
Two weeks later, against the Jaguars, Geno Smith finished with 195 yards and two touchdowns to go along with two carries for eight yards and a touchdown.
Geno Smith finished the 2021 season with 702 passing yards, five touchdowns, and an interception to go along with nine carries for 42 yards and a touchdown in four games and three starts.
Geno Smith competed against Drew Lock for the starting quarterback spot after the Seahawks traded Russell Wilson to the Broncos in the offseason.
Geno Smith was named National Football Conference Offensive Player of the Week for his performance.
On December 21,2022, Geno Smith was selected to his first Pro Bowl.
Geno Smith was the only quarterback to take every offensive snap for his team that season.
Geno Smith was named Comeback Player of the Year by the Associated Press and the Pro Football Writers of America.
Geno Smith was ranked 77th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2023.
On March 14,2023, Geno Smith re-signed with the Seahawks on a three-year, $75 million deal.
In Week 10 against the Washington Commanders, Geno Smith threw for a career-high 369 yards and two touchdowns along a rush for 13 yards.
Geno Smith was forced out of the following week's game against the Los Angeles Rams after suffering an injury to his throwing elbow in the third quarter.
Geno Smith missed the next two games after suffering a groin injury in practice with Drew Lock starting in his place.
Geno Smith finished the game with 227 passing yards and the two aforementioned touchdowns as well as two rushing yards.
Geno Smith finished the game 189 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, and 28 yards rushing.
Geno Smith finished the season with 3,624 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and nine interceptions along with 155 yards rushing and a touchdown.
Geno Smith threw an NFL record seven go-ahead touchdown passes in the fourth quarter and overtime during the season and posted the league's best Total QBR over the final six weeks.
Geno Smith was named to the Pro Bowl for the second consecutive season.
Geno Smith finished the year with 4,283 passing yards, breaking his own Seahawks single-season record from 2022.
Geno Smith broke Seahawks records for single-season passing attempts and completions, with 573 and 400, respectively.
On March 13,2025, Geno Smith was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for the 92nd overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.
Geno Smith, who had one year remaining on the contract he signed with the Seahawks, did not sign a contract extension with the Raiders upon the completion of the deal.
Geno Smith married his college girlfriend, Hayley Eastham, in July 2015.
Geno Smith's son, Seven Santana Smith, named in honor of his jersey number, was born on July 17,2019.
Geno Smith is a Christian, frequently posting about his faith on his Twitter account.
Geno Smith's cousin is Ohio State all-American wide receiver Jeremiah Geno Smith.