Jets Coach Aaron Glenn Endorses Geno Smith as Starting QB

Glenn says Smith will lead the Jets' offense in 2026 after signing as a free agent.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 1:05am by Ben Kaplan

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New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn has made it clear that veteran quarterback Geno Smith will be the team's starting quarterback in 2026 after signing with the team in free agency. Glenn praised Smith's past success, including a season where he was in the MVP conversation, and said the Jets are confident he can lead their offense.

Why it matters

The Jets were in need of a reliable starting quarterback this offseason, and Smith's signing provides them with an experienced option to stabilize the position. With the team holding multiple early draft picks in the coming years, Smith can serve as a bridge quarterback while the Jets potentially look to draft a long-term solution.

The details

Smith, a 12-year NFL veteran, is coming off a 2025 season with the Las Vegas Raiders in which he threw for 3,025 yards, 19 touchdowns and 17 interceptions in 15 games. Glenn highlighted Smith's past success, including a season where he was in the MVP conversation during his time with the Seattle Seahawks. The Jets did not have to pay a high price to sign Smith, with their other quarterback options being Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe.

  • Smith signed with the Jets as a free agent this offseason.

The players

Aaron Glenn

The head coach of the New York Jets.

Geno Smith

A 12-year NFL veteran quarterback who signed with the Jets as a free agent this offseason.

Brady Cook

A quarterback on the Jets' roster.

Bailey Zappe

A quarterback on the Jets' roster.

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What they’re saying

“It means to have a bona fide starter come in and lead this offense to where it needs to go. 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. ... Man, he was up for MVP early in the 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. ... No doubt about it. He's our guy.”

— Aaron Glenn, Head Coach, New York Jets

What’s next

The Jets will look to build around Geno Smith as their starting quarterback in 2026, while also continuing to evaluate long-term options in the upcoming NFL Drafts.

The takeaway

The Jets have found a reliable veteran quarterback in Geno Smith to stabilize their offense in 2026, allowing them to focus on building a contending roster around him while also exploring future options at the position in the draft.