Geno Smith played well in his New York Jets debut on Friday night and in any other town, that’s going to be notable but somewhat mundane news because the starting quarterback performing at a high level in the preseason is not a promise of championships.
But because we’re talking about New York, and the starving-for-glad-tidings Jets, this space warns you to prepare for what’s next.
Because Smith’s one drive against the Pittsburgh Steelers might lead to some massive overreaction. And a lot of excitement. And high expectations.
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New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith greets teammates before an NFL preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Justin Berl)
So, the Geno 2.0 public relations uproar is on.
That’s how it is in the Big Apple’s thrill ride through the NFL season for quarterbacks who struggle in preseason practices, as Smith has done at times this summer, and then deliver a near-perfect performance in their first preseason action.
“Very, very efficient,” Jets coach Aaron Glenn described it to reporters afterward. “I mean, I think he had two third-down completions within that, threw to five different receivers within that drive. He looked very comfortable.
“It was exactly what we were looking for …”
Smith is thus going to get a good dose of New York pundit love for the next few days because he had that drive in which he completed all seven of his pass attempts, including one that was tipped and caught by one of his offensive linemen.
He’s going to get applauded for converting a couple of third-down situations. And, of course, the 13-yard touchdown pass to Jelani Woods will be replayed as if on a loop on channels 2, 4, 5, 7 and WPIX.
New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith throws during the first half of an NFL preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
It’s the New York way.
So, how ya feelin’ Geno?
“It felt good to be out there with the guys,” Smith told reporters gathered at his locker stall. “You know, obviously we got one drive in, but we scored a touchdown. You always want to start fast. so that was a good thing.
“But definitely a lot of room for improvement. So just looking forward to getting back to practice, getting to work.”
This is a perfect reaction from Smith. He shows modesty while giving his performance proper context.
But the fans? The media? They’re going to go as close to wild as is allowed by NFL preseason bylaws.
And it won’t be just the fans and media getting all pumped. Some Jets teammates will, too.
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“We were all fired up for him,” backup quarterback Cade Klubnik said. “He’s going to have a heck of a year and that’s just a glimpse of it.”
There it is, a prediction for the entire regular season based on one preseason drive.
Geno Smith of the New York Jets participates in a joint practice with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center in Florham Park, N.J., on Aug. 11, 2026. (Getty Images)
And, again, it was a good drive. But that Steelers defense that retreated did not include T.J. Watt, or Jalen Ramsey, or Joey Porter, or Cam Heyward.
Just sayin’.
Look, the Smith we saw on Friday was more comfortable, more proficient, and just better than the one who left this same franchise a decade ago as a draft bust.
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You’ll recall Smith’s first stint with the Jets, from 2013 to 2016, was a mess. It ended, for all intents and purposes, when teammate IK Enemkpali sucker punched Smith and broke his jaw in 2015.
That, unfortunately, turned Smith’s stint with the team into something of a punchline — literally.
So, this return has a wonderful opportunity to be something else. Something better.
But Friday’s lone drive should be understood to be one humble hint of that possibility rather than a bold vision of the next few months.
Smith, thankfully, gets that.
“I just feel like,” he said, “we can be a lot better.”
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