After 10 seasons of leadership from quarterback Russell Wilson, the reins are passing to a not-so-new face.
With Wilson’s departure from Seattle, Seahawks quarterback Genea Smith could once again be the starting quarterback for an NFL franchise.
Whether it’s throwing an accurate pass or setting up a scoring offense, there are many skills a quarterback needs to help a team succeed. On the other hand, a non-physical skill that comes with the position is leadership, leadership that will influence other players on and off the field.
“I think you don’t have to compete with anyone else. Competition with yourself. How much better can you get every day? I think leadership is just being yourself. Some guys are rush, rush leaders; likes to talk, likes to shout. Some guys don’t. We all need to be leaders. It will not be one leader. This is a team of leaders. We all have to be responsible, hold each other accountable. My job is to continue to hold everyone accountable. I manage my hard work; my discipline and I think the guys feed off of that.”
Leadership is a skill Smith is not new to, having experience as a quarterback for the New York Jets during the 2013 and 2014 NFL seasons.
Smith, who played for four NFL teams in 10 years in the league, signed with the Seahawks in 2020 and was Wilson’s backup.
Although he hasn’t held a starting position long-term since donning a Jets uniform, Smith said he’s confident in his ability to manage.
“”I think it continues to evolve, as humans we are always learning and growing and evolving. Leadership is something that, in my opinion, you either have or you don’t have it. You don’t have to force it, so if guys get behind you, they do, if they don’t, they don’t, and I feel like guys have been trying to get behind me throughout my career,” Smith said Monday at the Seahawks. training camp.
This story was originally published August 1, 2022 at 5:39 p.m.
