The Las Vegas Raiders enter the 2025 NFL season with a new head coach and quarterback duo, as Pete Carroll takes over on the sidelines and top star is projected to start under center—potentially for the long term.
Veteran star is in the final year of his current contract, which includes a $14.8 million base salary for 2025. However, some expect the Raiders to extend his deal. While no agreement has been reached yet, Carroll confirmed discussions are ongoing.
“Yeah, we’re working on it,” Carroll said, via Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk. “G’s excited to get going, get started. He’ll be here when we get rolling. But we are working on it.”
Carroll and top star have a well-established rapport, having spent four seasons together with the Seattle Seahawks. Under Carroll’s guidance, Smith revitalized his career after being drafted in the second round by the New York Jets in 2013.
During his two seasons as a full-time starter in Seattle under Pete Carroll, Geno Smith earned two Pro Bowl selections while throwing for 7,906 yards, 50 touchdowns, and 20 interceptions with a 67.4% completion rate from 2022 to 2023. Over that span, the former West Virginia quarterback posted a 17-15 record.
“He’s a great competitor,” Carroll said of Smith, who set a career high as a regular starter in 2024 by completing 70.4% of his passes for 4,320 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions with the Seahawks.
“His conviction to believe in himself is why he is who he is,” Carroll added. “That’s why he’s stood through all of these challenges. He’s made it through, and he’s ready to be on top of the world. He can do anything in this game.”
The Raiders are banking on the Carroll-Smith partnership to spark a franchise turnaround. Las Vegas has missed the playoffs in each of the past three seasons and hasn’t advanced beyond the wild-card round since its Super Bowl run in 2003 under Bill Callahan.