During his first year as the Seahawks' starter in 2022, Smith led the league in completion percentage (69.8) and earned both Pro Bowl and AP Comeback Player of the Year honors. His 4,282 passing yards that season were a career high at the time, but he surpassed that mark with 4,320 passing yards during the 2024 season.
"I've been to a few teams, been around some great coaches, some great players," he said. "I really feel like just everything that I've endured throughout the course of my career, as well as all the things that I've learned, has really shaped me. It's helped me grow mentally, emotionally, physically -- as well as just cerebrally as a quarterback."
Smith's final stop before his return to the Jets was in Las Vegas last season, where he faced challenges as the Raiders finished the season with a 3-14 record. For Smith, though, the hardship was an equally important part of his journey that shaped the athlete he is today. Describing himself as a natural competitor, Smith said he has arrived at each stop with a chip on his shoulder -- and returning to the Jets will be no different.
"It's probably crazy, but I love when things are kind of at its toughest," Smith said. "That's when I think I shine the brightest because I know that when my back is against the wall, I do what it takes to get it done."
And though Smith may be returning to familiar faces in familiar places, he knows there is still plenty of work to be done and things to learn as he embarks on the next step in his journey.
"I think that's what you want out of this game, you want to continue to learn and continue to get better," he said. "Hopefully I can continue to learn from the guys in Florham Park and just continue to be a sponge. I was talking to \[offensive coordinator Frank Reich\], and I'm just eager to be coached by him and just learn from him. … I think it's going to be special."
For Smith, being back where his career began only adds to the opportunity.
"Just to come back now, to have an opportunity to continue to play this game that I love so much, and to be part of that organization again -- the organization that gave me a chance coming out of West Virginia and really believed in me," he said. "Although it didn't go exactly as planned, somehow, someway, we got back here. And I'm eager to make things right if I can."