Russell Wilson Fires Back at Former Coach Sean Payton Over Jaxson Dart Remarks

New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson didn't mince words on social media this week, responding to latest criticism from his ex-mentor Sean Payton.

"Tasteless... but not surprised...," Wilson stated on X. "Had no idea you're still offering rewards 15+ years later through the press."

The quarterback's response pointed to the notorious bounty scandal controversy from 2009-11, when Payton was coaching the Saints.

During that period, the NFL found that the Saints had incentivized players for delivering hard hits on opponents. Consequently, Payton received a suspension from the league for a full year.

The Cause of the Recent Exchange

The quarterback's reaction came after Payton delivered remarks following Denver's remarkable comeback victory over the Giants. The coach remarked that the team had "discovered new energy" with Jaxson Dart, who has replaced Wilson as the first-string QB.

Moreover, Payton implied that he had told team owner John Mara that he would rather playing against Wilson over Dart.

"I spoke to John Mara not too long ago and I said, 'We hoped that change would've happened long after our game,'" the coach commented.

Background of the Wilson-Payton Relationship

• Wilson was traded to the Broncos from the Seahawks in 2022 and signed a five-year, $245M contract.
• The team went 4-11 in his debut year before the team brought in Payton, who was coming back to the sidelines after a period in TV commentary.
• The coach benched Wilson 15 games into the 2023 campaign, a decision that prevented the quarterback from getting injured.

If Wilson stayed on the team by March 2024, his $37 million salary for the following year would have been locked in. Ultimately, Wilson was released, ending the ugly split between the quarterback and his coach.