Geno Smith seemingly offers words of encouragement for NY Jets QB Zach Wilson

Former NY Jets quarterback Geno Smith completed the ultimate revenge narrative when he officially eliminated his former team from playoff contention on Sunday over six years after his final game with the organization.

But while the revenge narrative was always going to be low-hanging fruit, Smith made it very clear in the lead-up to the game that he holds no ill will toward his former employer. He said all the right things prior to Sunday and refused to take a shot at his old team even when given the opportunity.

Smith was all smiles after the game, and he even caught with Jets quarterback Zach Wilson to share a moment of embrace on the field. The elder Smith shook hands with a number of Jets players at midfield before catching up with Wilson.

It's unclear what Smith said to the younger Jets QB, but the two spoke for a good 12 or so seconds before Smith reconnected with his former Seahawks teammate, D.J. Reed. One can only assume that Smith shared some words of encouragement with Wilson.

Geno Smith offered some encouragement to NY Jets QB Zach Wilson

Smith knows all about what Wilson is going through at the moment. The former second-round pick endured a rocky four years with the Jets and ultimately flamed out after just two years as the team's starting quarterback.

Wilson appears to be headed for a similar trajectory following a disastrous sophomore NFL season that saw him benched on multiple occasions. While the Jets won't publicly say it, Wilson's days with the organization that drafted him are numbered.

Perhaps Smith is reminding Wilson that this doesn't have to be the end of the road. Smith left the Jets and bounced around as a backup for a few years before suddenly re-emerging and putting together a Pro Bowl season at age 32.

At just 23 years old, there's no reason why Wilson can't find redemption in this league, even if it's not with the Jets. We don't know for sure, but I'd imagine Smith shared similar words of encouragement with his younger counterpart.

The Geno Smith story is one of perseverance and vindication. It may have taken Smith a decade to become the quarterback he always knew he could be, but better late than never, as they say.

Maybe, just maybe, Zach Wilson can find his own sort of personal redemption one day in the future.