The Seattle Seahawks may have been eliminated from playoff contention heading into their season finale against the Los Angeles Rams, but for quarterback Geno Smith, the stakes were still high. In Seattle’s 30-25 victory at SoFi Stadium, Smith secured $6 million in escalators tied to his contract, capping off a record-breaking season in style.
“I was just trying to win,”Smith said postgame. But in doing so, he hit all three escalators tied to his performance and the team’s achievements. The 34-year-old needed 185 passing yards to reach 4,282 on the season and a 69.7555% completion rate to meet his final incentive. He surpassed both marks, completing 20 of 27 passes for 223 yards and four touchdowns, including a game-winning strike to Noah Fant in the fourth quarter.
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Smith ended the season with 4,320 passing yards and a 70.4% completion rate, breaking franchise records he set last year. He also became just the 20th quarterback in NFL history to post a completion rate of 70% or higher for a season. His 578 attempts and 407 completions were both franchise highs, solidifying his role as the centerpiece of the Seahawks’ offense.
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“Throwing incompletions drives me crazy,”Smith joked. “I wasn’t thinking about escalators; I just wanted to win the game and finish strong.”
Head coach Mike Macdonald praised Smith’s leadership, saying the quarterback’s focus was solely on securing the team’s 10th win of the season. “He was awesome all week,”Macdonald said. “He wasn’t concerned about the money-he just wanted to go out the right way.”
Smith’s final touchdown pass to Fant marked his fourth game-winning drive this season, highlighting his ability to deliver in clutch moments.
Geno Smith reflects on Seahawks future
Smith, who is eligible for a contract extension this offseason, remained tight-lipped about his future with the Seahawks. While he has two years remaining on his current deal, Smith’s standout performances could prompt Seattle to revisit the terms.
“I’ll keep those conversations private,” Smith said when asked about contract negotiations.
Despite a disappointing season for Seattle’s run game, Smith offered a strong endorsement of first-year offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb. “Grubb is an excellent coordinator and an even better man,”Smith said.“This system has a lot of potential, and I’m excited about what’s ahead.”
Smith finishes the year with 21 touchdown passes and 15 interceptions, a career-best completion rate, and a season that, while short of playoff glory, demonstrated his value to the Seahawks’ future.
