The Las Vegas Raiders officially have a new quarterback, and they introduced him on Monday morning. Geno Smith, who revived his career with the Seattle Seahawks, spoke to the media for the first time since he was traded from the Emerald City to Sin City. Smith, a two-time Pro Bowler with the Seahawks, requested a trade from the team where he revitalized his career after contract extension negotiations went nowhere. Seattle offered him a deal, Smith clearly did not agree, and decided to seek greener pastures elsewhere.
Smith's decision certainly paid off, as he hit the jackpot with a two-year extension worth up to $85.5 million with the Raiders. While Smith has landed on his feet just fine in Las Vegas, he remains a consummate professional, and he mentioned during his press conference he harbors no ill-will towards his former team.
Smith says in introductory press conference of the way things ended in Seattle that "It was just business and that’s the way things work in the NFL. There are no hard feelings with anyone there. I have a lot of love for everybody there really.'' https://t.co/pl60I01ylP
— Bob Condotta (@bcondotta) April 7, 2025
Smith now has an opportunity to help lead a team in the AFC, that has been struggling for years, to new heights. Obviously the allure of playing with head coach Pete Carroll again was a strong one, as Smith says he was "sick" when Carroll left the Seahawks. But it isn't just Carroll that Smith wanted to play for, it's also Vegas' new offensive coordinator: Chip Kelly.
In an article from Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer, the connection between the two men was laid out. Kelly once tried recruiting a high school-aged Geno Smith to Oregon when he was still the Ducks' head coach. While Eugene Smith did not end up playing in the college town that bears his name, the two remained loosely connected throughout the years. Obviously, the connection strengthened when Geno's younger cousin, Jeremiah Smith, exploded in Kelly's system at Ohio State last season.
