Russell Wilson Responds at Former Coach Sean Payton Regarding Jaxson Dart Comments
New York Giants signal-caller Russell Wilson did not hold back on social media this week, responding to latest comments from his former coach Sean Payton.
"Classless... but not shocked...," Wilson declared via social media. "Didn't realize you're still bounty hunting 15+ years later through the media."
The quarterback's response directly referenced the notorious Bounty Gate issue from 2009 to 2011, when Payton was coaching the New Orleans Saints.
At that time, the league found that the Saints had rewarded team members for delivering aggressive tackles on rival teams. Consequently, Payton received a suspension from the league for a full year.
What Sparked the Latest Exchange
The quarterback's response came after Payton made comments after the Broncos' historic 33-32 victory over the Giants. The coach remarked that the Giants had "discovered new energy" with their new QB, who has taken over Wilson as the first-string QB.
Additionally, Payton hinted that he had informed team owner John Mara that he would prefer playing against Wilson over Dart.
"I was talking to John Mara recently and I said, 'We hoped that the switch would've happened long after our game,'" Payton commented.
Background of the Wilson-Payton Relationship
- The quarterback joined the Broncos from Seattle in 2022 and signed a 5-year, $245M extension.
- The Broncos went 4 wins and 11 losses in his first season prior to the team brought in Payton, who was coming back to coaching after a stint in TV commentary.
- Payton benched Wilson 15 games into the 2023 season, a move that prevented the quarterback from getting injured.
If Wilson stayed on the roster by March 2024, his $37 million pay for the following year would have been guaranteed. In the end, Wilson was let go, ending the contentious breakup between the quarterback and his mentor.
