Geno Smith returned to Seattle on Thursday for his preseason debut as the Raiders’ new quarterback.
And some Seahawks fans used the opportunity to throw a dig at their former signal caller.
As Smith came out of the tunnel at Lumen Field, one sign near him read: “BIGGER BUST - GENO OR JAMARCUS RUSSELL.”
Smith promptly gave the sign the middle finger.
The Seahawks traded Smith to Las Vegas this offseason where he reunited with head coach Pete Carroll.
The Jets selected Smith in the second round of the 2013 draft, and like many of their recent QBs, he struggled. From 2013-16, Smith went 12-18 while throwing for 28 touchdowns and 36 interceptions. He completed 57.9% of his passes.
Smith was signed by the New York Giants in 2017 and the Las Angeles Chargers in 2018, appearing in five games (one start, 40 pass attempts altogether).
It wasn’t until the Seattle Seahawks signed Smith that he was able to revive his career, but it took time. He didn’t get into a game in 2019 and didn’t become a starter again until 2022 when QB Russell Wilson was traded to the Denver Broncos.
That season, Smith was also named the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year when he tossed 30 TDs against 11 interceptions and completed 69.8% of his passes for 4,282 yards. He was named to his first two Pro Bowl teams in 2019 and 2020. Now, he has a 25-22 record in Seattle, which leads the NFC West with a 7-5 record, and he’s playing in the second season of a three-year, $75 million deal.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
Bridget Hyland may be reached atbhyland@njadvancemedia.com.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.