From 7-year sub to Pro Bowl, Seahawks playoffs, Geno Smith NFL comeback player of the year

From forgotten and, as he acknowledges, potentially out of the year to NFL comeback player of the year.

Geno Smith just got recognized for coming all the way back.

The Seahawks’ doubted quarterback who after seven years as a backup for four teams replaced Russell Wilson for Seattle’s 2022 season — then broke four team passing records, three of them Wilson’s, on the way to his first Pro Bowl selection and first career playoff start, won the comeback award Thursday. It was announced at the league’s nationally televised NFL Honors event in Phoenix, part of festivities for Sunday’s Super Bowl 57.

“Thank You Lord,” Smith posted earlier Thursday on his Twitter account, with an emoji of hands pressed as if in prayer.

He had 28 of 50 first-place votes for the award from the Associated Press’ national panel of voters who regularly cover the league. San Francisco running back Christian McCaffrey finished behind Smith with 12 first-place votes. New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley finished third in the voting.

Seahawks 1,000-yard running back Kenneth Walker finished second to the New York Jets’ Garrett Wilson for NFL offensive rookie of the year. Seattle cornerback Tariq Woolen, who co-led the league in interceptions as a fifth-round draft choice finished third in voting for defensive rookie of the year behind winner and Jets cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner and runner-up Aidan Hutchinson, the Detroit Lions’ debuting defensive end.

Smith is the second Seahawks player in three years honored by the NFL with a league award on the eve of the Super Bowl. Wilson was the 2020 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year. The last Seahawk to win an NFL official award for on-field excellence was 2005 league MVP and offensive player of the year Shaun Alexander.

“This story is just getting written,” the Seahawks posted on their Twitter page following Thursday night’s announcement, for which Smith was not present.

That is a reference to Smith saying into an ESPN camera on Lumen Field live on national television moments after he beat Wilson and the Broncos in the season opener Sept. 12: “They wrote me off. I ain’t write back though.”

Soon after, Smith filed a trademark request with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for his quote.

He said last week he’s planning on selling his quote on T-shirts.

That comment was in the same interview with SiriusXM satellite radio at the Pro Bowl during which Smith said it looks “very good” he will re-sign with Seattle for 2023 and beyond.

His latest in seven consecutive one-year NFL contracts ended last month with the Seahawks’ playoff loss at San Francisco. That was the first postseason start in the 32-year-old quarterback’s professional career.

“Yeah, we’ve had talks, and we are in the process of getting all that settled right now,” Smith said last Friday on SiriusXM NFL Radio’s Pro Bowl Live program with hosts Amber Theoharis and former NFL player Kirk Morrison.

“It’s looking very good,” Smith told SiriusXM satellite radio of a new contract with Seattle. “We think we can get some things done, but obviously those things take time. “This is the process that I hate about the NFL, because I just want to play football. But it’s a business, as well. So we’ve got to take care of business, and then we’ll get back to the football.”

Both Seahawks coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider have said they hope and expect Smith to re-sign with the team rather than shop in free agency. That market opens March 15.

Smith could earn a multiyear deal worth up to $30 million per year.

He earned $3.5 million in base pay plus another $3 million in incentives for beating out Drew Lock in the preseason then having his wondrous Seahawks 2022.