Geno Smith Endorsed as Seahawks Starter by HC Macdonald: 'He's Our QB. We Love Him'

Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald expressed his support for Geno Smith to remain the team's starting quarterback moving forward.

"It's pretty obvious this guy is a heck of a quarterback," Macdonald told Fox 13 Seattle's Aaron Levine. "He's our quarterback. We love him. Can't wait to go to work with him."

"And we can win a championship with Geno Smith," he added.

Smith has received Pro Bowl recognition in two of the past three years, helping lead the Seahawks to a playoff appearance during the 2022 season.

Seattle finished 9-8 and 10-7 with Smith under center in 2023 and 2024, respectively. The team narrowly missed the playoffs in both seasons.

In 17 starts during Smith's 2024 campaign, he completed a career-high 70.4 percent of his passes for 4,320 yards and 21 touchdowns. He struggled with turnovers, as his 15 interceptions were the third-most among all quarterbacks.

Smith improved down the stretch of the season, throwing for 697 yards and seven touchdowns while getting picked off twice over his final three appearances.

He has one season remaining on a three-year, $75 million contract that he signed with Seattle in March 2023 (via Spotrac). Smith's hefty $44.5 million cap hit for the 2025 season can be lowered with a new extension, but it's understandable that the Seahawks may have some concerns regarding a long-term commitment.

It's unknown if the signal-caller will remain as effective compared to past years in new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak's system. Smith will also be turning 35 years old during the 2025 regular season.

Still, Macdonald has repeatedly backed the passer as Seattle's top option moving forward.

"I want Geno to be here,'' Macdonald said earlier in the offseason, via Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times. "I think he's a heck of a player. The first thing it always comes back to is what's best for the team. I feel like Geno is the best for the team right now.''

As Smith searches for an extension with the Seahawks, he has the support of his head coach.