Geno Smith stood in front of three microphones on Tuesday, the first day the locker room opened to reporters in game week, and declined every invitation to make the moment about himself. The last time he started a game for the Jets, it was Week 7 of the 2016 season.
Geno Smith will start for the Jets on Sunday at Tennessee, his first start for the franchise in nearly ten years. He was voted one of six captains for 2026, the first time he will wear the C on a Jets jersey, and says the only measure of the season is wins.
How long has Geno Smith waited for this start?
Nearly a decade. His last start for the Jets came in Week 7 of the 2016 season, and the intervening years took him to Seattle and Las Vegas before he came back.
He was not interested in revisiting any of it. Asked what he might feel on Sunday, he said he was “just focused on executing the game plan, taking care of business and doing what I need to do to help this team win.”
“It’s an honor to be back here and to have the opportunity to be a part of this organization again, to lead this team, this young talented group of guys who work extremely hard,” Smith said. The longer arc of that return is covered in Geno Smith’s second act.
What does the captaincy mean to him?
It is a first, and he treated it as an obligation rather than a reward. Smith was among the players the Jets voted six captains for 2026, and it is the first time he will wear the letter on a Jets jersey. He captained Las Vegas last season and was named one periodically in Seattle, where the team chose captains weekly.
“I’m going to wear that captain’s patch with pride because there’s so many guys on this team who could’ve been easily voted captain,” he said. “For me, it just means that I’ve got to continue to do all the right things, lead in the right way and perform when it’s time to perform.”
What has he built with the receivers?
A back channel that runs outside practice hours. Through camp and the preseason Smith sent clips of routes to his playmakers and put ideas in front of them between sessions.
“I think that open line of communication is great,” he said. “It just breeds a better offense and a better connection with the wideouts, running backs and tight ends.”
What does he count as success?
Only the record. Smith gave no version of the answer that mentions personal statistics or narrative.
“It starts with wins and ends with wins,” he said. “That’s all that matters in this league is the win and loss column and so win as many games as we can.”
The opener is Sunday at 1:00 p.m. Eastern in Nashville. The rest of the year is on the Jets schedule, and his career detail is on the Geno Smith player page.
Frequently asked questions
When did Geno Smith last start a game for the Jets?
Week 7 of the 2016 season. Sunday at Tennessee will be his first start for the Jets in nearly a decade.
Is Geno Smith a captain for the Jets?
Yes. He was voted one of six captains for 2026, the first time he will wear the C on a Jets jersey.
Has Geno Smith been a captain before?
Yes. He was a captain last season in Las Vegas and was named one periodically in Seattle, where the Seahawks selected captains each week.
Who do the Jets play in Week 1?
The Jets open at the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, September 13, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern on CBS.
What does Geno Smith say success looks like this season?
Wins. In his words, it starts with wins and ends with wins, and the win-loss column is all that matters.
How old is Geno Smith?
He is 35, and one of several veterans the Jets brought in to lead a young roster.