- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Examining Geno Smith's Best and Worst Moments with the Jets
The quarterback is returning to New York after a tumultuous first stint with the team.
Published on Mar. 11, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
The New York Jets are bringing back quarterback Geno Smith, their second-round pick in 2013, to be their bridge quarterback. This article examines some of Smith's best and worst moments from his first tenure with the team, including his strong debut, a game-winning drive against the Falcons, and a perfect QB rating in the 2014 season finale, as well as off-field incidents, poor performances, and the infamous punch from teammate IK Enemkpali that broke Smith's jaw.
Why it matters
Geno Smith's return to the Jets is a high-profile move, as he looks to redeem himself after a rocky first stint with the team marked by both promising moments and embarrassing off-field incidents. His performance and ability to avoid past mistakes will be closely watched as the Jets try to build a winning team.
The details
In his first NFL start in 2013, Smith led the Jets to an 18-17 win over the Buccaneers, throwing for 256 yards and his first career touchdown. Later that season, he helped orchestrate a game-winning drive against the Falcons, finishing with 199 yards and 3 touchdowns. However, Smith's tenure also included low points, such as being kicked off a flight, cursing out a fan, and missing a team meeting due to time-zone confusion in 2014. He also struggled on the field that year, throwing 3 interceptions on consecutive drives against the Bills and eventually being benched.
- On September 8, 2013, Smith made his first NFL start and led the Jets to an 18-17 win over the Buccaneers.
- In Week 5 of the 2013 season, Smith helped the Jets defeat the Falcons with a game-winning drive.
- In the 2014 season finale, Smith registered a perfect QB rating of 158.3 in the Jets' 37-24 win over the Dolphins.
- In September 2014, Smith cursed out a fan while walking off the field after a loss to the Lions.
- In October 2014, Smith missed a team meeting, blaming time-zone confusion.
The players
Geno Smith
The quarterback was the Jets' second-round pick in 2013 and is now returning to the team to be their bridge quarterback after a tumultuous first stint.
IK Enemkpali
The Jets defensive lineman punched Smith in 2015, breaking his jaw and opening the door for backup Ryan Fitzpatrick to take over as the team's starter.
Ryan Fitzpatrick
The backup quarterback took over as the Jets' starter after Smith's jaw was broken by teammate IK Enemkpali.
What’s next
The Jets and their fans will be closely watching to see if Geno Smith can avoid the mistakes of his past and capitalize on this second chance with the team.
The takeaway
Geno Smith's return to the Jets represents an opportunity for redemption, as he looks to move past the off-field incidents and poor performances that marred his first stint with the team. His ability to learn from those mistakes and provide steady quarterback play will be crucial as the Jets aim to build a winning team.
