WVU Football Great Geno Smith Earns High Praise from Tom Brady

Former WVU Football star quarterback Geno Smith received high praise from the best to ever play his position on Wednesday, June 11, with future hall of famer and seven time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady — now a co-owner of Smith’s current team, the Las Vegas Raiders — noting the former Mountaineer’s work ethic in an interview with RG.

If there’s any professional athlete qualified to speak on work ethic, it’s probably Brady, notorious for his competitive drive.

“Geno’s done a great job since he was acquired, coming in and working his tail off,” Brady said. “Everyone’s excited about the direction we’re heading.”

Smith racked up 11,662 passing yards and 98 touchdowns across three years as the starting quarterback for WVU Football, including 42 passing touchdowns to just six interceptions during his senior year. He finished his career near the top of most statistical passing categories for the program, leading the Mountaineers to a trio of bowl games.

A 2013 second round pick of the Jets, Smith washed out of New York after two seasons as the starter, playing sparsely until 2022 when he earned the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year Award. From there, he caught on with the Seattle Seahawks, enjoying a career renaissance and putting up 71 passing touchdowns and more than 12,000 yards over the past three seasons.

He earned a three year, $75 million contract from the Seahawks ahead of 2023, then added a two year, $75 million extension from Las Vegas after landing there via trade in April 2025.