Russell Wilson Fires Back at Ex-Mentor Sean Payton Over Jaxson Dart Remarks
NY Giants quarterback Russell Wilson did not hold back on social media this Tuesday, responding to latest comments from his former coach Sean Payton.
"Tasteless... but not shocked...," Wilson stated via social media. "Had no idea you're still offering rewards 15+ years later through the press."
Wilson's remarks pointed to the infamous Bounty Gate controversy from 2009-11, when Payton led the New Orleans Saints.
During that period, the NFL determined that the Saints had incentivized players for delivering hard hits on rival teams. Consequently, Payton was suspended from the NFL for a full year.
The Cause of the Latest Exchange
The quarterback's response came after Payton made comments following the Broncos' historic comeback victory over the Giants. The coach suggested that the Giants had "found a little spark" with their new QB, who has replaced Wilson as the first-string QB.
Additionally, Payton hinted that he had informed team owner John Mara that he would rather playing against Wilson over Dart.
"I was talking to John Mara recently and I said, 'We hoped that change would've happened long after our game,'" the coach commented.
Background of the Coach-QB Relationship
- The quarterback joined the Denver from the Seahawks in 2022 and inked a 5-year, $245M extension.
- The Broncos went 4-11 in his first season prior to Denver hired Payton, who was coming back to coaching after a stint in broadcasting.
- Payton replaced Wilson 15 games into the 2023 season, a move that ensured the player from suffering an injury.
If Wilson stayed on the roster by March 2024, his $37M salary for 2025 would have been guaranteed. Ultimately, Wilson was let go, marking the ugly breakup between the quarterback and his coach.