Giants QB Wilson Fires Back at Former Coach Sean Payton Over Quarterback Remarks
NY Giants signal-caller Russell Wilson did not hold back on social media this week, reacting to latest criticism from his former coach Sean Payton.
"Classless... but not surprised...," Wilson declared on X. "Didn't realize you're still offering rewards 15+ years later through the press."
The quarterback's response pointed to the infamous Bounty Gate issue from 2009-11, when Payton was coaching the New Orleans Saints.
At that time, the NFL determined that the Saints had rewarded players for delivering hard hits on opponents. As a result, Payton was suspended from the NFL for one season.
What Sparked the Latest Dispute
Wilson's reaction came after Payton delivered remarks following the Broncos' historic comeback win over the Giants. The coach remarked that the Giants had "found a little spark" with Jaxson Dart, who has replaced Wilson as the starting quarterback.
Additionally, Payton implied that he had told team owner John Mara that he would prefer playing against Wilson over Dart.
"I was talking to John Mara not too long ago and I said, 'We were hoping that the switch would've happened well after our game,'" Payton commented.
Background of the Wilson-Payton Partnership
- Wilson was traded to the Broncos from Seattle in 2022 and inked a five-year, $245M extension.
- The team finished 4 wins and 11 losses in his debut year prior to the team hired Payton, who was coming back to the sidelines after a period in TV commentary.
- The coach benched Wilson 15 games into the 2023 campaign, a decision that prevented the player from suffering an injury.
Had Wilson remained on the team by spring 2024, his $37 million salary for the following year would have been guaranteed. In the end, Wilson was released, marking the ugly split between the player and his mentor.
