Pete Carroll remains in Geno Smith's corner.
In his first interview since being fired by the Las Vegas Raiders, Carroll told ESPN's Rich Cimini that he sees the positives about the quarterback's return to the New York Jets.
"If he figured out [New York] was a good place for him and he wanted to do it, and he was part of the decision, then I couldn't support him more," Carroll said of Smith, who was traded this week. "If he saw the reasoning and felt the support and the opportunity, I couldn't be in more favor of it. I love the guy and want the very best for him. He deserves it. He worked really hard to get where he is."
It's a reunion for Smith, who spent his first four seasons with the Jets before taking a journeyman path to another starting opportunity.
"I had to chuckle a little bit because of the history and all," Carroll told Cimini.
After finding rejuvenation under Carroll in Seattle, Smith was traded to the Raiders last year, but struggled behind a woeful offensive line, leading the NFL with 17 interceptions and 55 sacks taken. The former coach took the blame for the QB's struggles.
"He's a phenomenal quarterback, he really is," Carroll said. "He had a fantastic offseason and preseason with us, and he comes out in the first game, has a great first game. It was all fitting. It was exactly the right time for us. Then we just faltered and faltered. We didn't do well enough, coaching.
"We should've had him better prepared for the things that happened, and that wouldn't have happened," he continued. "I take a lot of responsibility in that. We didn't prepare him well enough in the offseason even though he looked great and we felt we had everything lined up. It was very, very disappointing for us both."
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Carroll specifically mentioned the offensive line issues that plagued Vegas last year as a reason Smith had issues.
"We got killed, we got killed," Carroll said. "Our offensive guys up front, from the last couple of years, we got murdered. We needed to upgrade that more than we did. It didn't happen in the draft, and it didn't happen in the offseason.
"We didn't go for it in the offseason. We needed to buy a new line to give the guys a chance to at least be more competitive. The only reason you get sacked that much is because you try to throw it too much. The whole thing didn't quite work out and that's why you saw a change and all that."
The Jets got Smith for cheap, as the Raiders are moving on with presumptive No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza. It's an immediate upgrade under center for Gang Green after a year of Justin Fields, Tyrod Taylor and Brady Cook. The question for New York fans is whether it's too good an improvement. Smith could help New York to wins that could squeeze them out of a top draft pick in 2027.