Russell Wilson Fires Back at Former Coach Sean Payton Regarding Jaxson Dart Comments
NY Giants quarterback Russell Wilson didn't mince words on social media this week, responding to recent comments from his ex-mentor Sean Payton.
"Tasteless... but not shocked...," Wilson stated via social media. "Had no idea you're still offering rewards 15+ years later through the media."
The quarterback's remarks directly referenced the infamous bounty scandal issue from 2009-11, when Payton led the New Orleans Saints.
At that time, the league found that the Saints had incentivized players for delivering aggressive tackles on rival teams. Consequently, Payton was suspended from the league for a full year.
What Sparked the Recent Exchange
The quarterback's response came after Payton delivered comments after the Broncos' historic 33-32 victory over the Giants. The coach suggested that the Giants had "discovered new energy" with Jaxson Dart, who has taken over Wilson as the starting quarterback.
Additionally, Payton hinted that he had informed team owner John Mara that he would rather facing Wilson over Dart.
"I was talking to John Mara recently and I said, 'We hoped that change would've happened long after our game,'" the coach stated.
Background 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 team finished 4 wins and 11 losses in his debut year prior to Denver hired Payton, who was returning to the sidelines after a stint in broadcasting.
- The coach benched Wilson late into the 2023 campaign, a move that prevented the player from getting injured.
If Wilson stayed on the roster by spring 2024, his $37M salary for 2025 would have been locked in. In the end, Wilson was released, marking the ugly breakup between the quarterback and his coach.
