New Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald names Geno Smith starting QB

New Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald has officially named Geno Smith the starter.

On Saturday, Macdonald told Tom Pelissero of NFL Media that he doesn’t anticipate a QB competition between Smith and Sam Howell.

“I don’t,” Macdonald said. “I’ve talked to Geno about it. Very confident in Geno. Geno’s going to be our starter. Sam knows he’s going to be our backup, but Sam is a great young player, and he’s got a really bright future that we believe in.”

Geno Smith will start at quarterback for the third consecutive season. Getty Images

Smith beat out Drew Lock for the starting role in 2022 and has gone 17-15 as the Seattle quarterback in the last two seasons while throwing for 7,906 yards, 50 touchdowns, and 20 interceptions.

Smith started a playoff game in 2022 against the San Francisco 49ers, throwing 253 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in Seattle’s 41-23 loss.

The Seahawks hired Mike Macdonald as the team’s head coach, who had been the Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator for the last two seasons. Getty Images

Smith won Comeback Player of the Year that season after starting all 17 games.

He had played in 15 games over the previous six seasons.

In 2023, the Seahawks were in a three-way tie for the final playoff spot with the New Orleans Saints and the Green Bay Packers. Green Bay secured the spot.

“His track record the last couple years and the stats he’s been able to put up, his poise, his leadership, obviously his capability throwing the football, and our relationship is just getting started to grow,” Macdonald said.

Smith, the Comeback Player of the Year in 2022, threw 20 touchdowns and nine interceptions last season for the 9-8 Seahawks, who narrowly missed a second-straight playoff berth. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

After Lock left in free agency to sign with the Giants, Seattle traded a third-round pick and a fifth-round pick to Washington for Sam Howell, a fourth-round pick, and a sixth-round pick.

Howell, who threw for 3,946 yards, 21 touchdowns and 21 interceptions, will back up Smith.

Smith started his career in New York, playing his first four NFL seasons with the Jets.

The second-round pick started during his first two seasons with the Jets but played in only three games in the next two years due to injuries. He was 12-18 in his Jets tenure.