Geno Smith Reveals Replacing Russell Wilson in Letter to Seahawks Fans
Long before he set Seattle Seahawks franchise records for passing yards, completions, attempts and percentage while leading them to a surprising playoff appearance and long before he signed a three-year, $105 million contract, Geno Smith was just a backup hoping for a shot to shine.
Then came March 22, when he first got wind of Seahawks' icon Russell Wilson potentially being traded.
In a first-person letter to Seahawks fans penned on The Players Tribune published Monday, Smith touches on several pertinent topics including his emotions of dealing from instantly becoming QB1.
Writes Smith:
Then in the offseason, I was probably one of the first people to know that a Russ trade might happen. I got a random text from Coach — this was before any of the news broke. And it was just like, “We’re going to need you big-time this year!!” I didn’t know for sure, but I had a pretty good idea of what that meant. The first thing I did after was call my mom, and I said, “Mom … it’s about to happen.” She’s like, “What??? What’s about to happen???” But I couldn’t really say more. So I’m just repeating myself, you know, like, “It’s about to. It’s about to. Trust me. It’s about to happen.”
Smith, of course, took the role and had a career that wound up with him in the Pro Bowl and the Seahawks in the postseason. Now armed with job security and a new contract, the 33-year-old promises fans he be even better in 2023 and beyond.
And I wanted to write this letter to express my gratitude — and to tell you all those same four words I told my mom: It’s about to happen. I’m so appreciative of everything that’s taken place over this past season. But this contract for me is a happy moment, not a happy ending. For me it’s the start. That’s just who I am. That’s the drive I have. You tell me I’m the backup? I’m going to prepare like I’m the franchise guy. You tell me Russ got traded, and now it’s an open competition? I’m going to be like, “Not for long.” You tell me Denver has the best D in the league? I’m going to march it down the field, first drive of Week 1, and get six. You tell me it’s a rebuild? I’m going to start thinking playoffs. You tell me I made the Pro Bowl? I’m going to try to make 10 Pro Bowls. You tell me we had a “nice” season? I’m going to follow it up with a great season. That’s just always my mentality with things — I’m always trying to get better.
Smith could get more help when Seattle takes the fifth overall pick in the NFL Draft April 27.
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