The Las Vegas Raiders took on the Seattle Seahawks in the Pacific Northwest in a preseason game on Thursday night. The game was the first time back for Raiders head coach Pete Carroll and quarterback Geno Smith.
Carroll spoke after the game about what returning to Seattle meant for him.
“I’m sorry to tell you it wasn’t like something that was obvious. It’s a football game,” Carroll said, according to Pro Football Talk. “I’ve been fighting wars for other people my whole life, coaching. I mean, I was with my team and we were battling.
“It was cool to be here. I loved it here. I’ve always loved the whole experience that we had here all those years together and all of that. I don’t forget that. I don’t disrespect that one bit. But it didn’t translate to something crazy to me. It was just an opportunity to play in a great setting.
“Thanks to the league for putting us in this game. When they figured it out, it was a good idea. A good one to look forward to. I thought we handled it all right.”
However, the return went a little differently for Smith, who got into an altercation of sorts with a Hawks fan, per Steph Chambers.
“(EDITORS NOTE: Image contains profanity.) Geno Smith #7 of the Las Vegas Raiders gives the finger to fans as he takes the field during an NFL Preseason 2025 game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on August 07, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images),” Chambers tweeted.
(EDITORS NOTE: Image contains profanity.) Geno Smith #7 of the Las Vegas Raiders gives the finger to fans as he takes the field during an NFL Preseason 2025 game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on August 07, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images) pic.twitter.com/7UrUigRlI2
— Steph Chambers (@StephChambers76) August 8, 2025
It’ll be interesting to see whether Smith and the Raiders or the Seahawks have a better season and get the last laugh.