On Aug. 11, 2015, Smith was (right) punched in the face by Jets defensive end IK Enemkpali, allowing backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick to take over and run with the job. And he took it and ran with it.
Smith has settled into a great career for himself, despite an up-and-down start that saw him get more backup jobs than starting jobs. Smith, on the other hand, earned the opportunity to start the next chapter of his career with the Seahawks in 2022, helping Seattle reach the playoffs
Here’s where — and why — his career took a wrong turn.
What caused Geno Smith to be punched?
On August 11, 2015, Jets head coach Todd Bowles reported that Smith had broken his jaw in a locker room brawl with another player. Bowles referred to the hit as a “sucker punch.”
Smith was decked by defensive end IK Enemkpali, and for a very stupid reason.
Smith had agreed to attend Enemkpali’s football camp in exchange for Enemkpali buying his plane ticket to Texas. The tickets were worth $1,200, with both parties agreeing to split the cost evenly.The quarterback did not attend the camp as Smith’s brother was injured in a biking accident a few days before. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Smith vowed to repay Enemkpali $600, but apparently not quickly enough for the defender, who instead landed a right hand on his jaw.
