Geno Smith
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Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Devin White didn’t hold back when describing his new quarterback, Geno Smith.
After just a short time playing alongside him, White offered a strong message that captured Smith’s competitive nature.
“Man, I like playing with dogs,” White said. “That’s the word to describe him. When anything is on the line, He’s gonna go get it. …He makes this team go.”
This assessment aligns perfectly with the way Smith approaches the game. Confidence has always been his greatest strength, famously headlined by his “They wrote me off, I ain’t write back tho” response back in 2022.
Devin White Praises Geno Smith’s Competitive Fire
This mentality has translated into results. Since 2022, Smith has tallied 10 fourth-quarter comebacks, including five last season in Seattle. He embraces high-pressure moments and has consistently proven he can deliver when games hang in the balance.
Smith himself put it best: “I tell all my coordinators, ‘Man, put the ball in my hands. I don’t care what play you call, just put the ball in my hands and we’ll make it work.'”
That fiery competitiveness runs deep.
Smith admits he’s always been wired that way, even back in his youth football days when he was the “biggest crybaby” after a loss. It’s a mentality that sometimes rubs people the wrong way, which was the case in Seattle, according to ESPN’s Ryan McFadden.
“But that’s who I am,” Smith said. “I mean, imagine Kobe Bryant. He spoke his mind about how he felt. Those are my idols. …Michael Jordan and guys like that, who were unapologetic about how bad they wanted to win. If it rubs somebody the wrong way, good. Those aren’t the people I want to go to war with. I want people who really go die about it because that’s how I am.”
That authenticity is part of what makes Smith a natural fit for Las Vegas. Head coach Pete Carroll is building this Raiders roster around players who have something to prove, and Smith embodies that identity.
As Smith said, “I’ve kind of been nobody’s favorite player, but I thrive in that role. I love being the hunter … the guy who is going out to hunt. If they overlook us, that’s fine. We might just surprise some people, but it won’t be a surprise to us.”
#Raiders QB Geno Smith had nine completions for 20-plus yards — tied for the most in a single game by a Raiders QB since at least 1991.
“I don't think it was a big statement game or anything like that. I just think it's just what he does,” said Pete Carroll pic.twitter.com/5pPOXdRCcV
— Ryan McFadden (@ryanmcfadden_) September 8, 2025
Smith Eyeing Retirement as a Raider
Don’t worry, Smith isn’t retiring anytime soon, but he is turning 35 next month.
Despite being a decade into his NFL journey, he believes he has plenty of football left in him. “My goal is to play 15 to 20 seasons,” Smith said. “I’m on [Year] 12, and I’ll make a decision after [Year] 15 if I want to keep going.”
The Raiders certainly hope he sticks around.
Smith signed a two-year, $75 million deal that runs through 2028, when he’ll be 38 years old. And he made his commitment to the Raiders loud and clear.
“I would love to finish my career here,” he said.
That blend of confidence, competitiveness, and loyalty is exactly what Devin White was pointing to when he called Smith a “dog.” For a Raiders franchise desperate to climb back into contention, they now have a quarterback whose fire matches the hunger of the fans.