New Seahawks head coach Mike McDonald has officially named Geno Smith the starter.
On Saturday, McDonald told NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero that he doesn’t foresee a QB competition between Smith and Sam Howell.
“I don’t,” mcdonald said, had previously been reluctant to use Smith as a starter. “I talked to Geno about it. I’m very confident in Geno. Geno is going to be the starter. Sam knows he’s going to be our backup, but he’s a great young player and We believe he has a really bright future.”
Smith beat out Drew Lock to be the starter in 2022 and went 17-15 over the past two seasons as Seattle’s quarterback, throwing for 7,906 yards, 50 touchdowns and 20 interceptions.
Smith started a playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers in 2022, throwing for 253 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in a 41-23 loss to Seattle.
Smith started all 17 games and was named Comeback Player of the Year that season.
He had appeared in 15 games over the previous six seasons.
In 2023, the Seahawks are in a three-way tie with the New Orleans Saints and Green Bay Packers for the final playoff spot. Green Bay secured that spot.
“His track record over the past few years and the grades he’s put together, his poise, his leadership, obviously his ability to throw the football, and our relationship is just starting to grow,” McDonald said.
After Lock signed with the Giants in free agency, Seattle traded a third-round pick and a fifth-round pick to Washington for Sam Howell, a fourth-round pick, and a sixth-round pick.
Howell threw for 3,946 yards, 21 touchdowns and 21 interceptions and will back up Smith.
Smith began his career in New York and played his first four NFL seasons with the Jets.
The second-round pick started his first two seasons with the Jets, but injuries limited him to just three games over the next two years. He went 12-18 with the Jets.
