Speaking to reporters at the 2026 NFL Annual League Meeting in Phoenix, Ariz. on Tuesday morning, Jets head coach Aaron Glenn had a chance to voice his opinion on a few topics relating to the upcoming season, none more pertinent than his confidence in new quarterback Geno Smith.
Smith, of course, was traded to New York from the Las Vegas Raiders earlier this offseason to re-join the team that drafted him in 2013.
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Now a veteran and a starter for the past four seasons, Smith returns to the Jets to take over the starting quarterback position that was held by Justin Fields last season with cameos from Tyrod Taylor and Brady Cook.
While Glenn recognizes that his team, following a 3-14 season in his first year as head coach, is still a long way away from competing for championships, he’s confident Smith can help lead them to where they want to go.
“I just feel like he’s the guy that’s gonna lead us to the promised land,” Glenn said. “He’s the guy that’s gonna touch the ball more than anybody else on offense.”
Despite a rough first season in Las Vegas last year after getting traded from the Seattle Seahawks where he came into his own and finished 27-22 as a starter, Glenn believes Smith has the right mentality to overcome his struggles.
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It’s a mindset that Glenn and Smith, two guys coming off bad seasons after finding previous success, have in common.
“It’s something about a quarterback with a chip on his shoulder,” Glenn said. “He fits exactly what we’re trying to do.”
Not only is Smith hoping to regain his form from his time in Seattle, his return to New York also signifies a chance for him to be able to triumph over the manner of his departure from the organization in 2016 that included tons of controversy and chaos.
Meanwhile, Glenn also pointed to the Jets’ strengths, namely their offensive line, as to why Smith can be successful in New York.
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“Obviously we’ve created an identity. The foundation of our offense is pretty good now when you look at the offensive line,” Glenn said. “… I think [Smith] is the perfect guy to fit exactly what we’re wanting to do, especially when we can run the ball the way we can run it, and now to be able to add some play action, I think he’s perfect for that.”
But Smith isn’t the only veteran Gang Green brought in this offseason. A year after being one of the youngest teams in the NFL, the Jets’ front office prioritized adding a slew of veterans such as David Onyemata, Demario Davis and Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Glenn thinks having those kinds of players on the roster and in the locker room “brings a certain level of adult” to the team that may have been lacking in years past.
“To be able to have an influx of these veteran guys to teach these guys exactly how does the locker room need to operate, how do you finish out games… when you start to add guys like that I think it only helps what you’re trying to create when it comes to a team,” Glenn said.
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As for Smith and his role with the team beyond this season, Glenn couldn’t answer that. He did say that he’s looking forward to having Smith play quarterback for the Jets this season and that the 35-year-old is excited about being back in New York.
“I think he’s gonna create some damage because of the arm talent and, man, he’s grown so much as far as his smarts,” Glenn said.
It also helps that Smith will have Garrett Wilson as his number one target as the wide receiver returns from a knee injury that held him to just seven games in 2025. After all, Smith has no problem airing it out and even in a down year in Las Vegas, he still completed 67.4 percent of his passes.
“He gives his guys an opportunity,” Glenn said.
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