Giants QB Wilson Responds at Former Coach Sean Payton Over Jaxson Dart Comments
New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson did not hold back on social media this week, reacting to recent comments from his ex-mentor Sean Payton.
"Classless... but not shocked...," Wilson declared on X. "Had no idea you're still bounty hunting 15+ years later through the press."
The quarterback's response pointed to the notorious bounty scandal issue from 2009-11, when Payton was coaching the Saints.
At that time, the NFL found that the Saints had incentivized players for delivering aggressive tackles on opponents. As a result, Payton was suspended from the league for one season.
What Sparked the Recent Exchange
Wilson's reaction came after Payton made remarks following Denver's historic 33-32 win over the New York. Payton remarked that the team had "found a little spark" with their new QB, who has replaced Wilson as the first-string QB.
Moreover, Payton hinted that he had informed Giants owner John Mara that he would prefer facing Wilson instead of Dart.
"I spoke to John Mara recently and I said, 'We hoped that change would've happened well after our game,'" Payton stated.
Context of the Coach-QB Relationship
- The quarterback joined the Denver from the Seahawks in 2022 and signed a 5-year, $245M contract.
- The Broncos went 4 wins and 11 losses in his debut year prior to Denver brought in Payton, who was returning to the sidelines after a stint in TV commentary.
- Payton replaced Wilson 15 games into the 2023 campaign, a decision that ensured the player from suffering an injury.
If Wilson remained on the team by March 2024, his $37 million salary for 2025 would have been guaranteed. Ultimately, Wilson was released, ending the contentious breakup between the quarterback and his coach.
