Russell Wilson Fires Back at Former Coach Sean Payton Over Jaxson Dart Comments
NY Giants quarterback Russell Wilson did not hold back on social media this week, reacting to recent criticism from his former coach Sean Payton.
"Tasteless... but not surprised...," Wilson declared on X. "Didn't realize you're still bounty hunting 15+ years later through the press."
Wilson's response pointed to the notorious bounty scandal issue from 2009-11, when Payton led the New Orleans Saints.
At that time, the league determined that the Saints had incentivized players for delivering hard hits on rival teams. As a result, Payton was suspended from the league for one season.
What Sparked the Latest Dispute
The quarterback's response came after Payton made comments following the Broncos' remarkable 33-32 victory over the Giants. Payton remarked that the Giants had "found a little spark" with their new QB, who has taken over Wilson as the first-string QB.
Moreover, Payton implied that he had told team owner John Mara that he would prefer facing Wilson instead of Dart.
"I spoke to John Mara recently and I said, 'We were hoping that the switch would've happened long after our game,'" Payton stated.
Background of the Coach-QB Partnership
- Wilson was traded to the Denver from the Seahawks in 2022 and inked a five-year, $245 million contract.
- The team finished 4 wins and 11 losses in his debut year before Denver hired Payton, who was returning to coaching after a stint in broadcasting.
- Payton replaced Wilson late into the 2023 season, a decision that ensured the player from getting injured.
If Wilson remained on the team by spring 2024, his $37M pay for the following year would have been guaranteed. Ultimately, Wilson was released, ending the contentious breakup between the quarterback and his coach.
