The 2025 season was objectively a disaster for Pete Carroll, Geno Smith and the Las Vegas Raiders.
After trading a third-round pick to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for Smith, the Raiders rewarded him with a two-year extension worth up to $85.5 million. While he completed 67.4% of his passes this past season, he only had 3,025 yards with 19 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. Carroll, meanwhile, was fired after going 3-14 during his first year in Las Vegas.
Earlier this week, the Raiders agreed to send Smith and a 2026 seventh-round pick to the New York Jets for a 2026 sixth-round pick. He'll have the chance to redeem himself on the team that drafted him back in 2013.
Carroll spoke to Jets reporter Rich Cimini this week about Smith's outlook in New York. He also revealed what went wrong for the Raiders this past season.
"He's a phenomenal quarterback, he really is. 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," Carroll said, via ESPN. "We should've had him better prepared for the things that happened, and that wouldn't have happened. 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."
Nov 2, 2025; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll reacts after the loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Bounce-back year coming up for Geno?
Smith, who earned Pro Bowl honors in 2022 and 2023, is a season removed from completing 70.4% of his passes for 4,320 yards with 21 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.
Despite their shortcomings this past fall, Carroll is hoping Smith will have success during his second stint with the Jets.
"If he saw the reasoning and felt the support and the opportunity, I couldn't be in more favor of it," Carroll said. "I love the guy and want the very best for him. He deserves it. He worked really hard to get where he is."
We'll find out this fall if Smith is capable of resurrecting the Jets.
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