Aaron Glenn Fully Endorses Geno Smith: ‘He’s Our Guy’

Geno Smith Confirmed as Jets’ Starting Quarterback

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PHOENIX — The New York Jets have officially confirmed that Geno Smith will be the team’s starting quarterback for the upcoming season. Head coach Aaron Glenn made this statement clear during an appearance on NFL Network at the NFL owners meeting.

“No doubt about it, he’s our guy,” Glenn said, reinforcing the decision that has been widely anticipated since Smith was acquired from the Raiders on March 10.

This announcement comes after a period of uncertainty surrounding the Jets’ quarterback situation. While it was expected that Smith would take the starting role, this is the first time the organization has publicly addressed the matter since the trade.

The Jets’ Plan for the Quarterback Position

Despite Smith being named the starter, the Jets are still expected to add more quarterbacks to their roster. Currently, the team only has Smith, Brady Cook, and Bailey Zappe under contract. It is likely that they will sign a veteran backup to support Smith, and there is also speculation that they could draft another quarterback in the upcoming draft.

The decision to bring in Smith was not without its challenges. The Jets had previously moved on from Justin Fields after just one season, trading him to the Chiefs on March 16. Smith was selected from what many considered an uninspiring group of quarterback options.

A Second Chance for Geno Smith

Glenn expressed confidence in Smith’s ability to lead the offense effectively. “It means to have a bona fide starter come in and lead this offense to where it needs to go,” he said. “Listen, he’s done it, you know, a couple of years. I mean, those years in Seattle, when he was, I think, Comeback Player of the Year.”

Glenn also highlighted Smith’s past success, including his near-MVP campaign early in the 2021 season. “There’s no doubt in my mind that we brought a competent starter here on this team. I look forward to him getting in the building.”

Mixed Reactions from Fans

Not all Jets fans are thrilled with the decision to bring back Smith. Some remember his initial stint with the team, which ended poorly. Smith was drafted by the Jets in the second round of the 2013 draft and was the starter for most of his first two seasons. However, he lost the starting job in 2015 after sustaining a jaw injury during an altercation with a teammate.

Smith spent several years as a backup before finding success with the Seahawks. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2022 and 2023, throwing 50 touchdowns over those two seasons. However, his performance declined last year with the Raiders, where he threw a league-worst 17 interceptions.

A New Chapter for Smith

At 35 years old, Smith is eager for another opportunity with the Jets, the team that originally drafted him. “I don’t think anyone could have imagined that, honestly, but that’s the beauty of life itself,” he said after the trade.

The Jets traded a 2026 sixth-round pick to the Raiders in exchange for Smith and a 2026 seventh-rounder. While the Raiders are paying Smith $16.2 million, the Jets are only covering $3.3 million, making it a cost-effective move for the team.