Russell Wilson Responds at Former Coach Sean Payton Over Jaxson Dart Comments
New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson didn't mince words on online platforms this week, responding to latest comments from his ex-mentor Sean Payton.
"Classless... but not shocked...," Wilson declared on X. "Didn't realize you're still bounty hunting 15+ years later through the press."
The quarterback's remarks pointed to the infamous bounty scandal controversy from 2009-11, when Payton led the Saints.
At that time, the NFL determined that the Saints had incentivized players for delivering aggressive tackles on rival teams. Consequently, Payton was suspended from the league for one season.
The Cause of the Latest Dispute
Wilson's response came after Payton delivered remarks following Denver's remarkable 33-32 victory over the New York. The coach suggested that the Giants had "found a little spark" with Jaxson Dart, who has taken over Wilson as the first-string QB.
Additionally, Payton hinted that he had told Giants owner John Mara that he would prefer facing Wilson over Dart.
"I was talking to John Mara not too long ago and I said, 'We hoped that change would've happened well after our game,'" Payton commented.
Background of the Coach-QB Relationship
- Wilson joined the Denver from Seattle in 2022 and inked a five-year, $245 million contract.
- The Broncos finished 4-11 in his first season before the team brought in Payton, who was coming back to coaching after a period in TV commentary.
- The coach replaced Wilson 15 games into the 2023 campaign, a decision that prevented the player from getting injured.
If Wilson remained on the team by spring 2024, his $37M salary for 2025 would have been locked in. In the end, Wilson was released, marking the contentious split between the player and his mentor.
