From being benched to being respected, Eugene Cyril Smith III, more popularly known as Geno Smith, has seen it all. Having made it to the pro-bowl after 9 seasons in the NFL, he rightfully won the award for ‘Comeback of the Year’ in 2022. Currently, Geno Smith plays as the starting quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks, a position he only dreamed of during the years he spent on the bench. What was it that brought about this dramatic change?

Smith says his life changed with the birth of his son ‘Seven Santana’ in 2019, but that cannot be the complete truth. What helped Smith was his grit and passion for the game. All those years when he sat on the bench with an injury, he could have given up and thought that this game was not meant for him. But he didn’t take the easy way out. It was his attitude in life that took him to his current altitude. And the credit for this goes to the QB’s parents. Kids are a reflection of their parents, and if that’s true for Geno, he had a great example to follow.

Geno Smith’s parents: Tracy Sellers and Eugene Geno Smith Jr.

Tracy Sellers and Eugene Geno Smith Jr. had the NFL star, when they were just 16. He was born on the 10th October 1990, in Miramar, Florida. Geno’s parents met each other through a mutual friend and eventually ended up dating. Naturally, the couple had to navigate through a complex set of challenges raising Geno. But they surely had some great helping hands. Smith’s grandparents, uncle, and parents worked together to raise him.

Geno Smith has always kept his personal life very private and similar is the case with his father. Geno Smith’s family is full of athletes. His great-uncle, John Daniel Smith, was a world-class hurdler and a two-time Olympian. No. 7’s great-grandfather, Cyril Smith, was a renowned bodybuilder in the 1950s. Geno is blessed with great genes from his paternal side, but what he received from his maternal side was even greater.

Raising Geno at such a young age was challenging for Tracy, but her mother, Mosetta Braton, was the pillar of strength. She supported her throughout, helping her navigate life’s difficulties. Geno has often acknowledged the pivotal role played by his grandmother in his life. In an interview with the ESPN, he said, “She was a huge influence in my life. She is a big part of the reason I am here today. She always taught me about working hard and chasing after your goals and being a good person.” I guess we now know about the source of his grit and attitude.

Big Geno dreamed big, worked hard for it, and fulfilled his dream. It’s popularly said that it takes a village to raise a child and the village that raised Geno was not an ordinary one. For someone from a family of elite athletes, Geno has not let his ancestors down. The love of his parents gives Smith the strength to continue, especially his father, who was ready to take a bullet for him.

Eugene Smith Jr. received a death threat

In 2017, the New York Giants ended Eli Manning’s starting streak and decided to bench him after a series of underwhelming performances. Naturally, Geno Smith took over for Eli, and needless to say, some fans were not happy. Booing a player and heckling him is one thing, but one fan went as far as to give Eugene Smith Sr. a death threat.

In an interview with NJ Advance Media, the star’s father explained in depth what happened that day. Eugene said, “I was just at work. I answered, and he [the one threatening] was like, ‘Geno?’ So, I just listened, and he was like, ‘Is this Geno?’ I was like, ‘Yeah.’ He was like, ‘Your son better not start or we’re going to kill you.’ I kind of just laughed and then he hung up.” The QB’s father has some serious guts to be able to do that. He further explained that he didn’t perceive the threat as serious because he believed if someone was going to kill him, they weren’t going to call him to inform that. I guess it’s not that easy to scare this family.

Geno comes from a family of courageous people who have faced life head-on and thrived. Indeed, the inspiring story of Geno helps us to strive for greatness. Truly an inspiring family.