NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- It was a full-circle moment, 10 years in the making.
Quarterback Geno Smith made his re-debut with the New York Jets on Sunday -- 3,612 days after his previous start. In the last one -- Oct. 23, 2016 -- he left with a torn ACL, ending his season. This time, he walked away unscathed and undefeated.
"It just feels like football," Smith said of his return to the Jets, who opened the season with a dominating 23-10 victory over the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. "It felt great to be out there with the guys and chasing the goal, which is 1-0."
Smith, 35, now owns the third-longest span between quarterback starts for a franchise since starts were first tracked in 1950. After his first stint with the Jets, he bounced around the NFL, playing on four different teams before being traded back to New York in the offseason.
He wasn't spectacular on Sunday, but he displayed the kind of efficiency (19-for-24, 215 yards, no turnovers) that often eluded him last season with the Las Vegas Raiders. After throwing a league-high 17 interceptions in 2025, Smith avoided big mistakes in the Jets' win. He also wasn't sacked.
"I don't think I got touched at all out there," he said.
Smith is considered a "bridge" quarterback for the Jets, but he has received vocal support from the organization. Coach Aaron Glenn made headlines in the offseason when he said, "I just feel like he's the guy that's going to lead us to the promised land."
The promised land is a long way off, but they're enjoying rarefied air. The Jets are above .500 for the first time since 2024, Week 3, when the coach was Titans coach Robert Saleh and the quarterback was Aaron Rodgers.
Glenn praised Smith for his "quarterback efficiency," adding, "We talk about that quite a bit. As long as he continues to be on that, and continues to understand that, I think he's going to do a good job for us.
"I expect that from him. He's a damn good player. That's the reason why he's here. He's been through so much and he understands that, but, man, he still has a ways to go on things that he has to get better at, too."
Smith received outstanding support from his offensive line and running backs, most notably Breece Hall, whose 102-yard rushing performance included a 4-yard touchdown run. Rookie tight end Kenyon Sadiq scored on an end-around from three yards, becoming the first Jets player in history to score a touchdown in the first quarter of his NFL debut.
"A dream come true," said Sadiq, drafted 16th overall -- one of three first-round picks.
His touchdown capped an eight-play, 60-yard drive on the first possession -- another rarity. The Jets scored a touchdown on only one opening drive in 2025, as their offense suffered a historically poor season with Justin Fields at quarterback.
"It's just a statement drive, going right down the field," said guard Joe Tippmann, describing the line's performance as "physical and dominant."
The Jets controlled the line of scrimmage, amassing a 19-play, 74-yard drive (14 designed runs) that ended with a field goal. In the second half, offensive coordinator Frank Reich leaned on Smith, who responded with 40- and 31-yard completions to Adonai Mitchell and Garrett Wilson, respectively.
Smith praised his skill-position players, saying, "I think we should have the mindset that there is no ceiling." They returned the compliments.
"He was calm, man," said Wilson, who led the team with six catches for 79 yards. "He was just like he is every day we see him -- in control, calm, captain of our team, and not to mention he was precise. I'll say that about Geno. He had a good day."