There are plenty of ways to evaluate a quarterback, but Joe Brady has a perspective on New York Jets star Geno Smith that goes back much further than their respective NFL careers.
The Buffalo Bills head coach revealed he remembers Smith from his high school days, when a young man who was still known as "Eugene Smith" was already making an impression as a freshman.
Brady's familiarity with the Jets' QB1 gives his assessment a different perspective heading into the AFC East matchup between the Bills (7-1) and Jets (2-7) in Week 10.
Brady wasn't stingy with his praise when asked about his familiarity with Smith, recalling a player who has always had the ability and temperament to compete at the position.
"He's a absolute baller, and I remember him
coming back in the Monday Night [Football] game [while with] the [Seattle] Seahawks, and that's kind of who he's been his whole career. Like, he's gone through it all. He' seen the good and the bad in New York, and he's a South Florida guy that you can never count out. He has the right mentality, the right makeup to play the quarterback position, and that's why he's been able to do it for so long," Brady said.
Joe Brady and Geno Smith played high school football against each other back when Geno went by Eugene. #BillsMafia https://t.co/514RPyFVKM pic.twitter.com/ZaFhTswV0V
— Ian Mills (@IanMillsTV) November 11, 2026
Brady and Smith go all the way back to when they played each other in high school. Smith attended Miramar High School in Miramar, Florida. Brady was learning the ropes crosstown at Everglades High School. Brady's comments are particularly notable because he didn't limit his praise to Smith's physical ability. Calling him an "absolute baller" was one thing, but his emphasis on Smith's mentality and makeup spoke to something deeper.
Their football careers have taken different paths since those high school days in South Florida, but Sunday's matchup brings them back together from opposite sidelines. Brady will be preparing to face a quarterback he has known since before either reached the NFL, and his comments make it clear that the respect he developed for Smith back then has carried over into their professional careers.
Jets Wire will continue to provide updates throughout the 2026 NFL season.
This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: Bills coach Joe Brady discusses his long history with Jets QB Geno Smith
