Seattle Seahawks Quarterback Geno Smith Has 'Everything to Prove' Heading Into the 2024 Season

Geno Smith is entering his 11th season in the NFL. His career has seen many ups and downs, but he has found a home in Seattle over the past few seasons.

Seattle gave Geno a chance to succeed after they traded their Super Bowl-winning quarterback, Russell Wilson, to the Denver Broncos.

Many quarterbacks in Smith’s position would feel comfortable after two Pro Bowls, becoming the 2022 comeback player of the year, and a playoff appearance. But not Geno.

Geno Smith Has a lot to Prove

Grant Gordon of NFL.com wrote about Smith’s outlook heading into the 2024 season. Geno is in an interesting position with almost an entirely new coaching staff.

“New coaching staff, old coaching staff, I got everything to prove,” Smith told reporters Wednesday amid Seattle’s week of voluntary offseason workouts. “That’s every day, that’s the way I wake up every day. I’m competing with Sam [Howell]. I know he’s competing with me. I’m going to compete my butt off; I’m competing with everybody in this building to be the best that I can be. I really don’t approach it any other way.”

Conversations arose after head coach Mike Macdonald was hired on whether Geno would automatically step back into his starting quarterback job. General manager John Schneider made it clear, “Geno’s our guy,” during the Annual League Meeting despite the trade of quarterback Sam Howell from the Washington Commanders.

Future Quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks

Rumors are still swirling around Seattle about whether or not they will draft Geno’s heir apparent. Bo Nix, Michael Penix Jr., and J.J. McCarthy are all names that seem to pop up.

With all the names of possible draft picks, Geno is wondering if he is being respected as a quarterback in the league.

Grant Gordon asked Wednesday if he believes he gets the respect he deserves. Smith said he was ultimately uncertain but, regardless, gained motivation to continue to fight to achieve it.

“Honestly, I don’t know,” he said. “I think in one case I think could say, ‘Yeah, I do get it,’ in other ways I think you say no. Again, my job is to fight for that respect and that’s the thing I enjoy about it, the competing part about just continuing to fight for my respect in this league.”

Geno has earned respect in many NFL circles but may need to earn respect with a new coaching staff in Seattle. We will learn much more after the NFL Draft and training camp in the next few weeks.