“My goal is to play 20 years,” Smith said during an interview with Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. “My idol Kobe Bryant [and] another idol of mine, Tom Brady, they both were able to play 20 years. So, you know, that’s something I’m chasing. Honestly, I really feel like I can.”
2024 marks Smith’s 12th season in the NFL, so he has a long way to go to reach his goal. His career began with two underwhelming campaigns as a Jets starter, a span which was followed by several years without handling a full-time starting gig. The former second-rounder made only 15 appearances and five starts from 2015-21, and it appeared at that point he would not manage to land another opportunity to lead an offense.
Following the trade which sent Russell Wilson out of Seattle, though, Smith was positioned to compete for the starting gig with Drew Lock in 2022. The veteran wound up starting every game and helping guide the Seahawks to the playoffs en route to a Pro Bowl nod and Comeback Player of the Year honors. That earned him a new deal, although things did not go as planned last year, as the Seahawks went 9-8 and missed the playoffs.
This past offseason, new head coach Mike Macdonald incrementally committed to Smith as Seattle’s starter over trade acquisition Sam Howell. Through the first seven weeks of the 2024 campaign, Seattle sits at 4-3 (good enough for first in the NFC West) with Smith leading the NFL in passing yardage, attempts and completions (191-of-279 for 1,985).
The West Virginia product sought out an extension this summer, but no talks on that front took place. As things stand, he is set to earn $25M next year, including a guaranteed base salary of $12.7M. A raise in line with the QB market’s upward trend would not come as a surprise if Smith continued to deliver solid performances this year, while an extension would ensure he remained in the Emerald City moving forward.
“I prepare, I eat the right things and take care of my body so it allows me to still be fast at 34,” Smith added. “I guess I’m not supposed to, I don’t know, but I think when I’m in my forties I think I’ll still be fast.”
With respect to when his playing career does come to an end, Smith noted he intends to return to his alma mater in a coaching capacity. If all goes according to plan, however, it will be several years until he begins his next football chapter.
