Geno Smith Says Jets 'Want to Be the Best Team in the World' After Finishing 3-14 in 2025

Quarterback Geno Smith has some lofty goals for his return to the New York Jets in 2026.

According to Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic, Smith noted that he and the Jets are proverbially shooting for the stars, saying, "We want to be the best team in the world."

The Jets have a long way to go if they want to reach that point, especially since they were unquestionably among the worst teams in the NFL last season.

With a 3-14 mark, the Jets were tied for the worst record in the league, and they are in the midst of a 15-year playoff drought, which is the longest active drought in the league and one of the longest in NFL history.

Smith broke into the NFL as a second-round pick by the Jets in 2013, and he spent his first four seasons with the franchise.

After going just 12-18 as the Jets' starter, Smith bounced around between multiple franchises as a backup, and he finally found a home with the Seattle Seahawks.

Smith succeeded Russell Wilson as the Seahawks' starter, and in three seasons as their QB1, he went 27-22, threw for 12,226 yards, 71 touchdowns and 35 interceptions, was named to the Pro Bowl twice and won the 2022 NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award.

Prior to last season, the Seahawks decided to go in a different direction at quarterback by signing Sam Darnold in free agency, so they traded Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders.

Smith's one season in Vegas was a struggle, as he went just 2-13 in 15 starts and completed 67.4 percent of his passes for 3,025 yards, 19 touchdowns and a league-high 17 interceptions.

It can be argued that Smith is now in an even more challenging position with the Jets, but his optimism is undeniable.

The Jets have an uphill climb in terms of making the playoffs given that they share the AFC East with the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills, but Smith does give them at least some stability under center and a chance to get more out of talented skill-position players such as wide receiver Garrett Wilson and running back Breece Hall.