Giants QB Wilson Responds at Former Coach Sean Payton Over Jaxson Dart Comments
NY Giants signal-caller Russell Wilson didn't mince words on social media this week, responding to latest criticism from his former coach Sean Payton.
"Classless... but not surprised...," Wilson stated via social media. "Had no idea you're still bounty hunting 15+ years later through the media."
The quarterback's response pointed to the notorious Bounty Gate controversy from 2009-11, when Payton led the New Orleans Saints.
At that time, the NFL found that the Saints had incentivized team members for delivering aggressive tackles on rival teams. As a result, Payton was suspended from the NFL for one season.
The Cause of the Latest Exchange
Wilson's response came after Payton made remarks following Denver's historic comeback victory over the New York. The coach suggested that the team had "discovered new energy" with their new QB, who has taken over Wilson as the first-string QB.
Additionally, Payton implied that he had informed Giants owner John Mara that he would prefer facing Wilson instead of Dart.
"I was talking to John Mara not too long ago and I said, 'We were hoping that change would've happened well after our game,'" the coach stated.
Background of the Coach-QB Partnership
- The quarterback joined the Broncos from Seattle in 2022 and inked a five-year, $245 million extension.
- The team went 4-11 in his debut year before Denver brought in Payton, who was returning to coaching after a period in TV commentary.
- The coach benched Wilson 15 games into the 2023 season, a decision that ensured the quarterback from suffering an injury.
Had Wilson stayed on the team by March 2024, his $37M pay for 2025 would have been locked in. In the end, Wilson was let go, marking the ugly split between the player and his coach.
