Jets Confirm Geno Smith as Starting Quarterback

Coach Aaron Glenn says veteran QB will lead New York's offense in 2026 season.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 8:54pm

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The New York Jets have named Geno Smith as their starting quarterback for the upcoming 2026 NFL season. Jets head coach Aaron Glenn told the NFL Network that Smith, acquired in a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders earlier this month, will be 'the guy' under center for New York.

Why it matters

The Jets struggled mightily with their passing attack in 2025, fielding the league's worst aerial offense. Bringing in the experienced Smith, who had a career resurgence in Seattle the past few seasons, is an attempt by the team to stabilize the quarterback position and improve their scoring output.

The details

Smith, 35, is coming off a rough 2025 campaign with the Raiders where he threw a career-high 17 interceptions. However, Glenn highlighted Smith's strong play as Seattle's starter in 2022 and 2023, including a Pro Bowl season in 2023 where he threw for over 4,300 yards. The Jets are hoping Smith can recapture that form and provide steady leadership for their offense.

  • The Jets acquired Geno Smith from the Las Vegas Raiders in a trade earlier this month.
  • Coach Aaron Glenn made the announcement that Smith will be the Jets' starting QB for the 2026 season on March 29, 2026.

The players

Geno Smith

A 35-year-old veteran quarterback who the Jets acquired in a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders. Smith had a successful stint as the starting QB for the Seattle Seahawks from 2022-2024 before joining the Jets.

Aaron Glenn

The head coach of the New York Jets, who confirmed that Geno Smith will be the team's starting quarterback for the 2026 NFL season.

New York Jets

An NFL team based in New York that struggled with their passing offense in 2025 and acquired veteran QB Geno Smith in a trade to be their new starting quarterback.

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What they’re saying

“'No doubt about it, he's our guy.'”

— Aaron Glenn, Head Coach, New York Jets

What’s next

The Jets will continue their offseason preparations with Smith as the clear starting quarterback, with the team hoping he can provide stability and production to their passing attack in 2026.

The takeaway

The Jets' decision to trade for and name Geno Smith as their starting QB represents a calculated gamble, as the veteran signal-caller looks to revive his career in New York after a down year in Las Vegas. If Smith can recapture his prior success, it could pay major dividends for the Jets' offense, but if he struggles, the team may find themselves searching for answers at the game's most important position once again.