Geno Smith aims to lead Jets and overcome turnover struggles in return as captain

Many years after losing his starting job with the New York Jets following a locker room altercation at age 25, Geno Smith has returned to the team. Now 36 years old, the veteran quarterback was named captain for the upcoming 2026 season. Smith expressed pride in wearing the captain's patch and emphasized his growth as a leader, aiming to guide the franchise to end its 15-year playoff drought.

While the Jets are pleased with Smith's leadership during training camp, his performance on the field will be the ultimate deciding factor. Over the last two seasons, Smith led the league with 32 combined interceptions, an average of one per game that must be reduced for the team to succeed. Despite these turnovers, the West Virginia product still possesses a strong arm and high accuracy, averaging a completion percentage of over 68% across his last four seasons as a full-time starter.

Entering his 13th NFL season, Smith will have significant support on offense, which has been revamped in recent years. This includes standout young wide receiver Garrett Wilson, along with star players on the offensive line and other skill positions. Wilson expressed excitement about the team's potential, noting that the group has as good an opportunity as any other in the league, though the ultimate outcome of the season will rest on Smith's play.