Aaron Glenn believes Geno Smith is the one to lead Jets ‘to the promised land’

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 and where his career began.

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 as well. While Glenn recognizes that his team, following a disastrous 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 in the past. 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 this year with the Jets, 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.