Has a modern NFL head coach ever shown more patience than what Raiders HC Pete Carroll is showing with Geno Smith right now?
Probably, but it feels like Smith has done everything possible in 2025 to get benched, and Carroll continues to stand by his hand-picked quarterback.
From the outside, it looks like the Geno experiment is already a failed venture by the Raiders, but as ESPN’s Rich Eisen said on Friday, Carroll refuses to not believe in his veteran quarterback.
“I don’t think they can run it back with Geno again… unless he can turn it around. There’s still a lot of time left here,” Eisen said on the Rich Eisen Show.
“Clearly, [Pete Carroll] just loves Geno. He loves him and believes in him and wouldn’t even take him out [on Thursday after injuring his leg]. It was at one point where it looked like [Kenny] Pickett was going back in and Geno ran out of the blue tent for a second time, limping out there…”
The Athletic’s Michael-Shawn Dugar covered Carroll when he was head coach of the Seahawks and Dugar shared some interesting insights over the offseason about Carroll’s affinity for Geno Smith.
Dugar’s comments (below) are even more relevant today.
“Pete knows Geno and probably believes in Geno more than anyone outside of Geno’s immediate family. The way Pete talks about Geno is the way I talk about my daughter. Pete really loves this dude,” Dugar said on the Just Win podcast.
“At some point last year, he was like, ‘Geno is one of my favorite stories. He’s one of my favorite players I’ve ever coached.’ Pete has been coaching since the 70s. For Geno to rank that high, that means a lot. I think if anything, it doesn’t stop him from drafting a quarterback, but it may tip the scale in Geno’s favor more than like making it a full-on open competition…”
Carroll also acknowledged in the offseason that Smith was his plan at quarterback from the day he was hired by the Raiders.
”I was trying to get that done from the moment this thing happened. I was hoping we could do something [to get Geno Smith],” Carroll said on Brock and Salk in May.
“Geno was a backup for all those years… so there was a lot of times where we had to do stuff together to keep him going and he was keeping me going , but I was keeping him going. What he demonstrated to me [was] this remarkable connection in spirit to be ready knowing that the very next play he may be in the game. He never forgot that. His resolve about that I thought was so exceptional that when he got his turn I was thrilled for him…”
“This opportunity [came] up and we needed a quarterback. Really, it was a classic opportunity for us to really transition to a quarterback and a coach that see eye to eye on everything. Geno has killed it here. He’s been such a factor. The leadership he brings, his work ethic, the mentality his brings, it’s been a fantastic assistance to turning this thing over.”
Unfortunately, for Carroll and Smith, there will eventually come a point where the Raiders have no choice but to look at the backup quarterbacks on the roster. Aidan O’Connell, Kenny Pickett and Cam Miller could all factor into the team’s quarterback situation before the season is over.
Offensive Coordinator Chip Kelly is also working his way over to the hot seat, so that situation might be one to monitor in the weeks ahead, as well.
If it comes down to Kelly or Smith being fired (or released in Geno’s case) at the end of the season, don’t be surprised if it’s the offensive coordinator that draws the short straw.
x: @raidersbeat
I would like to say “blow up the Raiders” but they have been imploding for years so that would be redundant. Team Turmoil suck, swallows and blows chunks. Now, I understand what it’s like to be a Jets fan. Ineptitude year after year after year.
Carroll is senile. He hired his son to be the O line coach. He shouldn’t be anywhere near an NFL team.
Whoever made the call to hire Carroll and give him this much say so should be canned, along with him. If it was Brady, the owner needs to rethink letting him run the football side as it’s evident that he’s learning on the job and the end result looks horrible! Brady isn’t qualified to run a team! Only Mark Dummy Davis would let a greenhorn run his team!
I know going in everyone thought this was a good decision to bring Carroll in as coach. But it’s proven to be a nightmare we have payed to much for a qb that was nothing more than a backup. But we had opportunities to get other quarterbacks that are doing real good. We changed the offensive line around and messed it up.The Raiders as an organization for some reason can’t get people in place that can make the obvious call to get good players.
The Seahawks are looking like geniuses, replacing Carroll with an up and coming young HC! Coaches have a shelf life, the game changes. Unfortunately, Dummy Mark Davis keeps making mistake after mistake! It will be a mistake to continue to allow Carroll to oversee the rebuild, but I see them making this mistake.