There's a lot of symbolism in seeing Pete Carroll walk step for step behind Geno Smith as the quarterback entered his introductory press conference.

When the two first became acquainted in 2019 with the Seattle Seahawks, Smith's trajectory pointed toward being a backup for the rest of his career. A second-round pick to the New York Jets in 2011, he would have six unfulfilling seasons between them, the New York Giants and the Los Angeles Chargers. In that span, he had a 12-19 record as a starter, completed less than 60 percent of his passes and threw seven more interceptions than touchdowns passes thrown.

"Geno went through a lot to get here," Carroll said, sitting to the left of the quarterback. "There were a lot of years in there when he had to take the second seat in playing the quarterback position. But what I realized in him early on, not before we got him but once we got him and got to know him, that he was able to take every single day with a clear thought that, 'I may play the very next play and I'm not going to miss that opportunity.' And he did it for a number of years."

In 2022, Smith earned his right to a second act. After serving as Russell Wilson's backup for three seasons, he was thrust into the starting role once the Seahawks moved on from Wilson. In the season opener, ironically against Wilson and the Denver Broncos, Smith outdueled his predecessor in a 17-16 victory. He threw two touchdowns while going 23-of-28, which would set the tone for Smith ultimately becoming one of the more accurate quarterbacks in the NFL.

In Smith's two seasons as a starter under Pete Carroll, he threw 50 touchdowns, was selected to two consecutive Pro Bowls and won the 2022 NFL Comeback Player of the Year.

But most importantly, they won games.

Seventeen to be exact, five more wins than Smith accumulated as a starting quarterback in his first six seasons in the league.

"My mindset has never changed, it's the same thing every day," Smith said. "Go out there and compete, go out there and win, do what it takes to be the best. Even when I was the backup, that's how I felt. I think that allowed me to stay in it and now that I get the opportunity to start, nothing changes. I'm still in my mind that same guy who had to fight, scratch and claw for the opportunity and that will never leave me."

Now with the Raiders, Smith and Carroll continue to build their football legacies on one another. After spending a year away from coaching, Carroll is tasked with revitalizing another NFL franchise in similar fashion to his tenure with the Seahawks.

This led to him going out of his way to vouch for Smith to General Manager John Spytek, which led to the team trading away their extra third-round pick for him and signing him to an contract extension. It seems to be good timing considering Smith is coming off a 10-win season in 2024 in which he completed over 70 percent of his throws with a career-high 4,320 passing yards.

"He's going to bring us great stability and belief in the kind of things that we stand for," Carroll said. "His habits are so, so stellar. The way he works, the way he looks at the game, the way he looks at the challenges of it all is exactly in line with the way we think and so, he'll represent us in magnificent fashion."

"When it comes to inspiring people, inspiring guys to go out there and play hard, I mean this guy's got it in spades," Smith said of playing for Carroll. "He's legendary, his track record speaks for itself, but he competes every single day and that's what I love about him."

Smith knows what he's capable of doing with Carroll in his corner. The goal isn't just picking up where they left off, but shifting things into the next gear.

"I think there is unfinished business and I think when people think about my story, Coach Carroll is a big part of that," he said. "He gave me a opportunity when not many people would've. And he saw the hard work I was putting in, he saw the things behind the scenes that I do that allow me to get this opportunity. But to be able to play for him and again to be a part of this organization, it means everything to myself and my family.

"I was just telling this man I'll run through a wall for him, and he knows that. And I'll do the same thing for my teammates and for this organization."