The rivalry between Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce goes way beyond their AFC West division. It started long before the NFL, and one moment from their high school days still sticks with Travis. On November 17, ESPN analyst and Travis’ brother, Jason Kelce, just revealed that Smith ruined Travis’ quarterback tryout in college.

“Geno, I know you know this,” Jason said to Geno Smith. “So, you ruined Trav’s chances of ever playing quarterback for West Virginia by showing him up at that recruiting camp…He remembers you, I know that.”

“My bad, Trav,” Geno Smith seemed a little apologetic about it, as he quickly followed it up with a three-word message for Travis: “It worked out.”

Smith clearly acknowledged that he knew the story when he was chatting with Jason and other reporters on the field before the Raiders faced the Dallas Cowboys. However, later, Jason, too, agreed that it really worked out for everyone involved. So what really happened between Geno and Travis? Let’s rewind to know the backstory.

We all know that when Travis moved to Cincinnati for college, he became a tight end. But before that, Kelce used to be a quarterback at Cleveland Heights High School. That’s how he crossed paths with Smith. Both Geno Smith and Travis Kelce attended a West Virginia recruiting trip, hoping to earn offers as quarterbacks for Rich Rodriguez. Kelce had shared the story on his New Heights podcast in 2022. 

“I’ve seen Geno sling it around since we were in high school,” said Travis on the podcast. “When we both went on a recruiting visit to West Virginia, and he was just dotting it. And the way the ball was coming out of his hand…I walked out of there empty-handed, and Geno Smith walked out of there with an offer. I just remember seeing him throw the ball, and I was just sitting on the sideline like, ‘Man, I ain’t got that.”

Imagine being that young and seeing someone outshine you so clearly. That moment forced Travis to rethink his future. But it ended up being the best thing that could have happened to him. His journey matches that of Julian Edelman, who was once a three-year starter at quarterback at Kent State and later ended up winning three Super Bowls as a receiver with the Patriots. Similarly, since becoming a tight end, Travis has carved out a legendary career and name with the Chiefs. 

While playing against the Washington Commanders this season, Travis caught the 100th touchdown of his career. He became only the fourth tight end in NFL history to reach that milestone. Travis also recently broke the Chiefs’ franchise record for most total touchdowns with his 84th one while playing against the Denver Broncos. Not bad for someone who once dreamed of playing quarterback.

Geno Smith’s journey, however, looks very different. He became a star QB at West Virginia and entered the 2013 NFL Draft as a top prospect. The New York Jets picked him 39th overall. But he struggled early with more interceptions than touchdowns in both of his first two seasons. He bounced around as a backup, revived his career with the Seattle Seahawks, and now starts for the Raiders. 

How is it working out for Geno Smith in Las Vegas?

Before the matchup against the Cowboys, Jason Kelce reminded Geno Smith that he was at his prime with Seattle from 2022 to 2024. He revitalized his career and had some success while being guided by the Raiders’ head coach, Pete Carroll (who used to be the coach of Seattle back then). But now, when asked about his time in Las Vegas, Smith suggested that there is room for improvement. 

“Pete’s the same guy since I met him,” said Geno Smith. “Amazing coach, bringing that same juice. I think, you know what, where we are in this season right now, we could be a lot better. We are focusing on getting things turned around. Tonight’s an example of an opportunity to do that.” 

While Geno Smith sounded optimistic, the reality is tougher. The Raiders just suffered a 33–16 loss to the Cowboys. Smith was sacked four times as he threw for 238 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He also leads the league with 13 interceptions this season. While Smith had promised to do better in the future for the team, things are not turning out well for him.

At 35, Geno Smith’s record now raises a big question: Will the Raiders look for a new quarterback in the 2026 draft? It is undeniable that things have worked out beautifully for Travis Kelce. But for Smith? The answer may depend on how much time Las Vegas gives him to turn things around.