Geno Smith

Eugene Cyril “Geno” Smith III was born on October 10, 1990, in Miramar, Florida. His family roots trace back to Bimini in the Bahamas, and his athletic lineage includes his great-uncle Danny Smith, a record-breaking hurdler, and cousin Mel Bratton, a star running back. Smith’s nickname, Geno, originated from his paternal grandfather. He attended Miramar High School, where he excelled in football under coach Damon Cogdell. As a junior, he passed for 2,200 yards, 25 touchdowns, and three interceptions, earning second-team all-state honors. By his senior year, he led his team to the state 6A semi-finals, completing 205 of 338 passes for 3,089 yards and 30 touchdowns. He also rushed for over 300 yards, becoming a first-team all-state selection and a Parade All-American. Smith finished his high school career as the third-best passer in Broward County history.

Smith continued his football career at West Virginia University from 2009 to 2012, majoring in English. After a year as a backup, he became the starting quarterback in 2010, leading a notable fourth-quarter comeback against Marshall and earning his first Big East Offensive Player of the Week award. His junior year saw significant improvement under new head coach Dana Holgorsen, who implemented a passing-based offensive system. Smith set single-season school records for pass completions (291), attempts (448), and yards (3,741) in 2011, surpassing previous records held by Marc Bulger. He also broke Tom Brady’s Orange Bowl record for passing yards with 401 in the 2012 Orange Bowl, where West Virginia routed Clemson 70–33.

Selected by the New York Jets in the second round of the 2013 NFL draft, Smith spent his first two seasons as the team’s starter. After stints as a backup with the New York Giants and Los Angeles Chargers, he joined the Seattle Seahawks in 2019. In 2022, Smith had a breakout season, leading Seattle to the playoffs, earning the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award, and achieving the league’s highest completion percentage. He was selected for two Pro Bowls in 2022 and 2023. In 2024, he continued to set franchise records with the Seahawks, breaking his own single-season passing yards record. In March 2025, Smith was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders, where he reunited with former Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll and signed a two-year, $75 million contract extension, setting a Raiders franchise record for most passing yards in a debut game.