While his agent negotiates his new Seahawks deal, Geno Smith weighs in on...politics.
While his agent negotiates a new Seahawks contract, Geno Smith is weighing in on...
Politics.
Specifically, how one particular politician views his state government’s taxes.
The Seahawks quarterback with one year left on his $75 million contract posted on his social-media account this week reaction to the Ron DeSantis, the governor of Smith’s home and native state, stating he intends to bring “relief” from property tax payments in Florida.
“You buy a home, you buy land... and then, you’ve been taxed many times [on that]... is it your property, or not?” DeSantis posted Monday on X (formerly called Twitter). “Just for being on your property, you’ve got to write a check to the government every year?
“A lot of people can’t afford that. That’s a big issue. We’re going to be looking at ways to bring people relief from that.”
Smith responded on X with an emoji of an arrow onto a target’s bullseye.
Smith was born in Miramar, outside of Miami. He resides in south Florida during the Seahawks offseason.
Every state in the U.S. has property taxes, according to realtor.com. Florida’s constitution requires a 60% vote of its legislature to change its state tax laws.
Florida’s average effective real estate tax rate is 0.79%. That is about in the middle of all rates for the country’s 50 states, per WalletHub.
Washington’s state constitution limits the annual rate of property taxes that may be imposed on an individual parcel of property to 1% of its true and fair value. according to the Tacoma-based Municipal Research and Services Center. Stated by dollars per $1,000 of value, Washington’s 1% limit is the same as $10 per $1,000 and is often referred to as the $10 limit.
Reaction online to Smith’s tweet DeSantis is “on target” wanting to reduce or eliminate Florida’s property taxes included “breaking news guy with money doesn’t want to pay taxes,” “Geno love you buddy but property taxes are how we pay for things like schools for children” and “Tweeting from the red zone?”
That last one was a football reference to Smith throwing the second-most interceptions inside the opponent’s 20-yard line this past season. He and the Seahawks missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season.
Smith, 34, is entering the final year of his three-year, $75 million contract with Seattle. The two-time Pro Bowl quarterback who set two franchise passing records this past season wanted a new deal and a raise last spring.
Seahawks general manager John Schneider told Smith and his representatives to wait until this offseason for the team to address his contract. Seattle’s custom is to re-do and extend the contracts of foundational players entering the final seasons of their deals.
That time is now. Schneider said this week at the NFL’s annual scouting combine in Indianapolis he is meeting with Chafie Fields, Smith’s agent, in talks on a new deal for the quarterback.
Smith is scheduled to have a prohibitive charge of $44.5 million against the 2025 NFL salary cap. Schneider and the Seahawks almost certainly are seeking to lower that figure to be more team-friendly. With no heir to be their starting quarterback apparent, the Seahawks can lower Smith’s cap number for this year via a new deal beyond 2025.
“We expect him to be our guy,” Schneider said.
“But we want to do what’s right, too.’’
This story was originally published February 26, 2025 at 9:00 PM.
