Could ex-Seahawks QBs Russell Wilson, Geno Smith reunite with Jets?

Geno Smith famously backed up Russell Wilson for three years in Seattle before taking over as the starter when Wilson was traded to Denver.

Could the roles now be reversed?

It's a possibility as multiple reports Tuesday afternoon stated that the New York Jets had Wilson in for a free agent visit Monday.

The same Jets who last month made a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders to acquire Smith to be their new starting quarterback.

According to The Athletic, the visit by Wilson got the approval of Smith and came after "Smith mentioned (to general manager Darren Mougey) that he enjoyed working with Wilson during his time in Seattle.

The Athletic further reported that "Mougey has been surveying the market for a backup quarterback since the Jets traded for Geno Smith in March. The team had conversations with Wilson, 37, before the NFL draft, per the source, and scheduled a visit for after the draft to allow the team to focus on their draft process."

Smith is considered the unquestioned starter for the Jets with coach Aaron Glenn stating last month at the NFL league meetings: "I just feel like he's the guy that's going to lead us to the promised land."

The Jets drafted Cade Klubnik of Clemson in the fourth round of last weekend's NFL draft. Brady Cook - who started four games for the Jets last season - and Bailey Zappe are also on their roster.

Despite that, reports state the Jets still appear interested in adding another veteran backup quarterback.

Reports indicated that a signing may not happen immediately with ESPN reporting that "nothing is imminent" with Wilson and that the "Jets are going through their process" of potentially adding a veteran as a backup.

Signings of veteran free agents are picking up this week with the NFL draft complete and teams having a better sense of their final needs for filling out their rosters. Also, signings of unrestricted free agents no longer factor into the formula for determining compensatory draft picks in 2027.

If nothing else, the visit proves that Wilson indeed wants to continue to play despite a rough 2025 season in which he was benched as the starting quarterback of the New York Giants after just three games - and an 0-3 start for the Giants - in favor of rookie Jaxson Dart and was relegated to third-team status behind Jameis Winston.

Winston is set to return as the backup for Dart for the Giants who recently signed free agent Brandon Allen as their third QB, leaving no more room for Wilson, who became an unrestricted free agent in March.

"I still want to keep playing football," Wilson said in November. "I know what I'm capable of. I know how great I am. I know what I've done."

Wilson, who turns 38 in November, said on numerous occasions during his days with the Seahawks that he hoped to play into his 40s.

In 2019, he said during one of his regular weekly meetings with the media in Seattle on the day after he turned 31 that he hoped he could play until he was 45. At the time, Steve DeBerg, Warren Moon and Vinnie Testaverde held the record for oldest starting QB in NFL history at 44. Tom Brady then broke that mark when he started a game at age 45.

"I've always wanted to go for 45, Wilson said then. "That's kind of just longevity playing. I think, for me, every year is you're invested to your body. You're invested into your mind, your soul, everything else. The game. As you go, you get even stronger and you get even better I feel like. Even more wisdom. I think that helps a lot."

The problem now for Wilson is finding a team as he has been released or not re-signed by the Broncos, Steelers and Giants in the last three seasons in a career that has not gone the way he or anyone else could have envisioned following his trade to Denver in March of 2022.

Wilson went 104-53-1 in 10 years as the Seahawks' starter with 292 touchdown passes and 87 interceptions, but is 17-27 since his trade to Denver with 61 touchdown passes and 27 interceptions.

Smith was traded by the Raiders after the team went 3-14 last season, resulting in the firing of former Seahawks coach Pete Carroll and hiring of Klint Kubiak as the new head coach after Kubiak spent the 2025 season as the Seahawks' offensive coordinator.

Justin Fields was the Jets' primary starting quarterback last season. But New York went 2-7 in his nine starts and the team made the move to get Smith and traded Fields to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Wilson isn't the only legendary former Seahawk whose football future remains uncertain. Linebacker Bobby Wagner - who played last season with the Washington Commanders - and receiver Tyler Lockett - who ended last season with the Raiders - also are free agents.

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This story was originally published April 28, 2026 at 4:53 PM.