Russell Wilson Fires Back at Former Coach Sean Payton Over Jaxson Dart Remarks
New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson didn't mince words on online platforms this week, responding to recent comments from his ex-mentor Sean Payton.
"Tasteless... but not surprised...," Wilson declared via social media. "Didn't realize you're still bounty hunting 15+ years later through the press."
The quarterback's remarks directly referenced the notorious bounty scandal issue from 2009 to 2011, when Payton was coaching the Saints.
At that time, the NFL found that the Saints had rewarded players for making aggressive tackles on rival teams. Consequently, Payton was suspended from the league for a full year.
What Sparked the Recent Dispute
Wilson's reaction came after Payton delivered comments after Denver's historic 33-32 victory over the Giants. Payton suggested that the team had "discovered new energy" with Jaxson Dart, who has replaced Wilson as the starting quarterback.
Additionally, Payton hinted that he had informed Giants owner John Mara that he would prefer playing against Wilson instead of Dart.
"I spoke to John Mara recently and I said, 'We were hoping that change would've happened long after our game,'" the coach stated.
Context of the Wilson-Payton Partnership
- Wilson joined the Denver from Seattle in 2022 and signed a 5-year, $245M extension.
- The Broncos went 4 wins and 11 losses in his debut year before the team hired Payton, who was coming back to the sidelines after a stint in TV commentary.
- Payton replaced Wilson 15 games into the 2023 season, a decision that prevented the player from getting injured.
Had Wilson remained on the roster by March 2024, his $37M pay for 2025 would have been guaranteed. Ultimately, Wilson was released, ending the contentious split between the quarterback and his mentor.
