Geno Smith has enjoyed a strong starting tenure in Seattle, and the 34-year-old is under contract through next season. He does not intend to hang up his cleats any time soon, though. 
“My goal is to play 20 years,” Smith said during an interview with Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. “My idol Kobe Bryant [and] another idol of mine, Tom Brady, they both were able to play 20 years. So, you know, that’s something I’m chasing. Honestly, I really feel like I can.”
2024 marks Smith’s 12th season in the NFL, so he has a long way to go to reach his goal. His career began with two underwhelming campaigns as a Jets starter, a span which was followed by several years without handling a full-time starting gig. The former second-rounder made only 15 appearances and five starts from 2015-21, and it appeared at that point he would not manage to land another opportunity to lead an offense.
Following the trade which sent Russell Wilson out of Seattle, though, Smith was positioned to compete for the starting gig with Drew Lock in 2022. The veteran wound up starting every game and helping guide the Seahawks to the playoffs en route to a Pro Bowl nod and Comeback Player of the Year honors. That earned him a new deal, although things did not go as planned last year.
This past offseason, new head coach Mike Macdonald incrementally committed to Smith as Seattle’s starter over trade acquisition Sam Howell. Through the first seven weeks of the 2024 campaign, Seattle sits at 4-3 with Smith leading the NFL in passing yardage (along with attempts and completions). The West Virginia product sought out an extension this summer, but no talks on that front took place. As things stand, he is set to earn $25MM next year, including a guaranteed base salary of $12.7MM. A raise in line with the QB market’s upward trend would not come as a surprise if Smith continued to deliver solid performances this year, while an extension would ensure he remained in the Emerald City moving forward.
“I prepare, I eat the right things and take care of my body so it allows me to you know still be fast at 34,” Smith added. “I guess I’m not supposed to, I don’t know, but you know I think when I’m in my forties I think I’ll still be fast.”
With respect to when his playing career does come to an end, Smith noted he intends to return to his alma mater in a coaching capacity. If all goes according to plan, however, it will be several years until he begins his next football chapter.
And I’d like to live to be 120 years old.
Once you become a senior it just feels like your body is 120 years old.
Sounds insane on the surface but he’s been in the leauge for 11 years. Seattle is foolish to still have him as a starting QB for three seasons but he’s a high quality backup. Those guys last forever
How is Seattle foolish? He might not be a Top 5 QB but he is definitely in the top half of the league
It’s their third year post Wilson and they have no plan at QB. Geno is exactly what you said mid tier. He’s a guy teams that need a one year starter bring in like Darnold in Minnesota. Playing Sam Howell would give them more of an indication on the future than Geno.
I don’t see Seattle giving him a new contract. Last week was not the only time but his leadership skills were sorely tested. He got upset when DK supposedly didn’t run the route sharp enough. He went to the bench after the int and watched the play and slammed the tablet on the ground. He also started sulking when things went bad. He would walk around with hunched shoulders and sit on the bench just staring ahead
After the game last week he went and hung DK out complaining he could have run the route better and another play could have tried harder to get his feet down on an overthrow on his part. Plus the defender pushed him out. I marvel at both him and Lockett with getting their feet down. JSN is learning too. He has never really named other players when complaining about routes or them trying. He has complained about others though.
He doesn’t seem to take the blame on himself. He tends to deflect when things go bad. He misses throws or doesn’t see all the open receivers all the time but you never hear others complaining. I think his little bit of success has gone to his head and he is acting like his stuff don’t stink. Hope we can fill our QB spot in the draft and not extend this guy.
Must be cool playing on the same team as his idol, Coby Bryant
Crazy to think that 8 years ago no one thought he’d make it until now
Perhaps the next poll question should be…Who will be the lucky team to have Geno Smith as their starter when he’s 43?
Jets or Browns