FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- When the New York Jets traded for Geno Smith in March, bringing him back to where he started his career in 2013, it prompted a loud groan from their quarterback-scarred fanbase.
Smith 1.0 doesn't evoke fond memories for Jets fans, and his performance last season for the Las Vegas Raiders was so uneven that the franchise was willing to eat $16 million of his 2026 salary to have him play elsewhere.
Desperate for a bridge starter, the Jets took on the reclamation project, hoping he could recapture his Seattle Seahawks form -- circa 2022 when he led passers with over 100 attempts in completion percentage (69.8) -- and provide stability at their most unstable position.
Through three games, Smith, 35, has exceeded expectations in New York, giving off early comeback-season vibes.
"He's a warrior, man," tight end Jeremy Ruckert said. "He's a field general. We have the utmost confidence in him."
Smith's completion rating (75.5%) ranks second in the NFL, and he's giving credence to the slogan, "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" -- which is to say, he's not throwing interceptions like he did as a member of the Raiders.
After a league-high 17 interceptions last season, Smith has yet to throw one in 102 pass attempts. The last time he went three straight games without a pick was the final three games of the 2023 season, his second year as the Seahawks' starter.
There's a lot of season left, but it's worth noting that Smith is putting up numbers that would rank among the best passing seasons in franchise history.
Disclaimer: It's not a glittering history. Beyond franchise icon Joe Namath, there's only a sprinkling of above-average to excellent seasons over the last half-century.
Only two players passed for 3,000 yards, 20 touchdowns and a 65% completion rate in the same season -- Chad Pennington (2002) and Brett Favre (2008). Mind you, these aren't extraordinary benchmarks. In today's NFL, they represent a solid season. In Favre's case, he had as many touchdown passes (22) as interceptions, which blemishes his season.
With 783 yards and four touchdowns, Smith is on pace to blow away those marks. Of course, perspective is important.
Smith has battled inconsistency at times in his career, and his current supporting cast is banged up. The status of running back Breece Hall (quad), wide receiver Adonai Mitchell (finger) and tight end Mason Taylor (thumb) are uncertain as they prepare to face the Chicago Bears on Sunday at Soldier Field. Chances are, he won't have Hall, a blow to an already sputtering rushing attack.
That said, Smith has emerged as one of the early bright spots in the Jets' 1-2 start. On Sunday, he passed for 321 yards and three touchdowns in the 31-24 loss to the Detroit Lions, the first Jets' quarterback since Mike White in 2022 to have 300 yards and three touchdowns in a game.
Coach Aaron Glenn praised Smith for "delivering the ball with confidence," staying in the flow of the offensive scheme and handling pass rushers in his face. Without Mitchell and Taylor, he still connected with eight different receivers, with 14 of his 31 completions going to tight ends. He also found Garrett Wilson on a consistent basis (10 receptions for 107 yards), something he didn't do in the first two games.
"Are there some things that he has to improve on? Absolutely, absolutely he does, and he would tell you that himself," Glenn said of Smith. "But I think, overall, I was really pleased on how he operated."
Smith's one mistake was a sack-fumble on the Jets' last possession, from the Lions' 28-yard line. He took the blame for the turnover, his first of the season. Glenn said, "He has to be able to hold on to the ball in that situation, so we can have another opportunity."
Otherwise, he was almost perfect in the fourth quarter, completing 15 of 17 passes for 156 yards. Smith had more passing yards in that one quarter than Justin Fields produced in five of his nine starts last season.
"He makes it easy to play receiver," said rookie tight end Kenyon Sadiq, who had his first NFL touchdown reception Sunday.
Smith will be a free agent after the season, and he knows that his chances of remaining a starter in the league will hinge on how he performs with the Jets. Maybe they will ask him back as a transition quarterback, holding the spot while they groom a highly drafted rookie.
He hasn't talked about his future, though he acknowledged in spring that a triumphant comeback with the Jets, the team that drafted him 13 years ago, "would be like a story in a movie, right? Kind of like one of those superhero movies."
It's still early in production, but the first few scenes look promising.