Pete Carroll takes responsibility for Geno Smith's struggles with Raiders

Quarterback Geno Smith has a new chance to get it right as a starting quarterback in the NFL. Ironically, it comes with the franchise that first took a shot on him back in the 2013 NFL Draft.

The New York Jets selected Smith with pick No. 39 in that draft, but he didn't pan out. In fact, he looked like a draft bust for multiple seasons in the league before he wound up with the Seattle Seahawks and then-head coach Pete Carroll in 2020.

Carroll helped Smith resurrect his career. First, as a backup to Russell Wilson, then, as the full-blown starter in Seattle. In fact, the former West Virginia quarterback made back-to-back Pro Bowls with the Seahawks.

It made sense, then, that Smith followed Carroll to Las Vegas when he became head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders for one ill-fated year. Carroll went 3-14 and was fired after just one season. Smith struggled and once again looked like a bottom-tier NFL quarterback. 

Carroll doesn't believe that's the player he is, though. Recently discussing Smith and his fresh start back in New York via trade, Carroll revealed that he believes coaching played a role in Smith's tough 2025 season.

"He's a phenomenal quarterback, he really is," Carroll told Rich Cimini of ESPN. "He had a fantastic offseason and preseason with us, and he comes out in the first game, has a great first game. It was all fitting. It was exactly the right time for us. Then we just faltered and faltered. We didn't do well enough, coaching."

Pete Carroll still believes in Geno Smith 

Carroll believes he could have prepared Smith better for the transition from Seattle to Vegas. Smith ultimately played in 15 games, throwing for 3,025 yards, 19 touchdowns and a league-leading 17 interceptions.

"I take a lot of responsibility in that. We didn't prepare him well enough in the offseason even though he looked great and we felt we had everything lined up. It was very, very disappointing for us both," Carroll said.

The Raiders were terrible on the offensive line, and that hurt Smith. He was sacked 55 times, which led the NFL. That's not a category you want to lead the NFL in.

Carroll admitted that it's a bit ironic that Smith is back with the Jets. One has to imagine that as someone who roots for Smith, he's also a bit worried because it's not like things are much better from an overall talent perspective in New York.

The Jets will be asking a lot of Smith, but Carroll believes that he will be successful as long as he goes into this second stint in New York with eyes wide-open.

"If he figured out [New York] was a good place for him and he wanted to do it, and he was part of the decision, then I couldn't support him more," Carroll said. "If he saw the reasoning and felt the support and the opportunity, I couldn't be in more favor of it. I love the guy and want the very best for him. He deserves it. He worked really hard to get where he is."