Russell Wilson Fires Back at Ex-Mentor Sean Payton Over Jaxson Dart Comments
New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson did not hold back on online platforms this Tuesday, reacting to recent criticism from his former coach Sean Payton.
"Classless... but not surprised...," Wilson stated via social media. "Had no idea you're still bounty hunting 15+ years later through the press."
The quarterback's remarks directly referenced the infamous bounty scandal issue from 2009 to 2011, when Payton led the New Orleans Saints.
During that period, the NFL determined that the Saints had incentivized team members for delivering aggressive tackles on opponents. As a result, Payton was suspended from the league for a full year.
What Sparked the Latest Dispute
Wilson's response came after Payton delivered remarks after the Broncos' remarkable 33-32 win over the Giants. The coach suggested that the team had "found a little spark" with Jaxson Dart, who has replaced Wilson as the first-string QB.
Additionally, Payton implied that he had told team owner John Mara that he would rather facing Wilson instead of Dart.
"I was talking to John Mara not too long ago and I said, 'We hoped that the switch would've happened well after our game,'" the coach stated.
Background of the Coach-QB Partnership
- Wilson was traded to the Broncos from Seattle in 2022 and signed a five-year, $245M extension.
- The team went 4-11 in his debut year prior to the team hired Payton, who was returning to coaching after a stint in TV commentary.
- Payton replaced Wilson 15 games into the 2023 season, a move that prevented the quarterback from getting injured.
Had Wilson stayed on the roster by March 2024, his $37M salary for 2025 would have been locked in. Ultimately, Wilson was let go, marking the ugly split between the player and his mentor.
