Russell Wilson Fires Back at Former Coach Sean Payton Over Jaxson Dart Comments
New York Giants signal-caller Russell Wilson didn't mince words on online platforms this week, reacting to recent criticism from his ex-mentor Sean Payton.
"Tasteless... but not surprised...," Wilson stated via social media. "Had no idea you're still offering rewards 15+ years later through the press."
Wilson's remarks directly referenced the notorious Bounty Gate controversy from 2009 to 2011, when Payton was coaching the New Orleans Saints.
During that period, the league found that the Saints had incentivized players for making aggressive tackles on rival teams. As a result, Payton was suspended from the NFL for a full year.
The Cause of the Recent Dispute
Wilson's response came after Payton made comments following Denver's historic comeback win over the New York. The coach remarked that the team had "found a little spark" with their new QB, who has replaced Wilson as the starting quarterback.
Additionally, Payton implied that he had told Giants owner John Mara that he would rather facing Wilson instead of Dart.
"I spoke to John Mara not too long ago and I said, 'We hoped that change would've happened well after our game,'" the coach stated.
Context of the Wilson-Payton Relationship
- The quarterback was traded to the Denver from the Seahawks in 2022 and inked a five-year, $245M extension.
- The Broncos went 4 wins and 11 losses in his debut year prior to the team hired Payton, who was returning to coaching after a period in TV commentary.
- Payton replaced Wilson 15 games into the 2023 season, a decision that prevented the quarterback from suffering an injury.
Had Wilson stayed on the roster by March 2024, his $37 million salary for 2025 would have been guaranteed. In the end, Wilson was let go, ending the ugly breakup between the player and his mentor.
