The New York Jets gave up on quarterback Geno Smith in 2016. He had stopped being the starter for New York in 2014 and the former second-round player was just warming the bench. He also had gotten into a fight with a teammate, and that was the final nail in the coffin of his career in New York. That last part is important in relation to the social media post Smith created after the Seattle Seahawks defeated the Jets in Week 13.
Smith was certainly not the reason that Seattle beat New York, but he also did not turn the ball over. In fact, the Seahawks' defense was ultimately forced to win the game due to the massive issues the special teams unit was having in the first half. It was difficult for Smith and the offense to get much going in the first half when the special teams kept turning the ball over.
Still, Smith did make enough pinpoint throws and kept his poise enough to lead Seattle on a fourth quarter touchdown drive to win the game. Since the beginning of 2022, when Smith took over the starting quarterback gig for the Seahawks, no other quarterback in the NFL had as many fourth quarter comebacks or game-winning drives. The Jets could use a quarterback like that instead of the aged Aaron Rodgers.
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith trolls the New York Jets in the best way possible
Smith does harbor some grudges, though. Several teams either gave up on him too soon or never saw Smith as a full-time starter, so since taking over as QB1 for Seattle, Smith has had a bit of an ongoing revenge tour. The latest of which was Seattle traveling to defeat the Jets on Sunday. After the game, Smith posted a well-known meme - really, more of a photo - of a person who had appeared at the funeral of an enemy simply to make sure the person had really died.
— Geno (@GenoSmith3) December 1, 2024
In other words, Smith and the Seahawks' victory over the Jets almost certainly ended the Jets' season. New York is not yet mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, but Seattle made is almost impossible for them to have any real chance to make the postseason. There is little doubt that Smith felt extremely gratified by defeating yet another of his former teams.
Smith is having arguably his worst season since 2022, but he is still fifth in the league in completion percentage (68.8) while playing behind a terrible offensive line. He has been sacked the third-most times in the league (40). He is also the clear QB1 for Seattle this year, next season, and likely a couple of years beyond. His team is currently in first place in the NFC West and Smith's best football this season might still be ahead of him.