Giants QB Wilson Fires Back at Ex-Mentor Sean Payton Regarding Jaxson Dart Comments
New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson did not hold back on online platforms this week, responding to latest comments from his former coach Sean Payton.
"Classless... but not surprised...," Wilson stated on X. "Had no idea you're still bounty hunting 15+ years later through the press."
The quarterback's response directly referenced the infamous Bounty Gate controversy from 2009 to 2011, when Payton was coaching the Saints.
During that period, the NFL found that the Saints had rewarded players for delivering aggressive tackles on opponents. As a result, Payton was suspended from the league for a full year.
The Cause of the Recent Dispute
The quarterback's response came after Payton delivered remarks following Denver's remarkable 33-32 win over the Giants. The coach suggested that the team had "found a little spark" with their new QB, who has taken over Wilson as the starting quarterback.
Additionally, Payton hinted that he had told team owner John Mara that he would rather playing against Wilson over Dart.
"I spoke to John Mara not too long ago and I said, 'We hoped that the switch would've happened long after our game,'" Payton stated.
Background of the Wilson-Payton Relationship
- Wilson was traded to the Broncos from the Seahawks in 2022 and signed a five-year, $245 million extension.
- The Broncos finished 4 wins and 11 losses in his debut year before the team brought in Payton, who was coming back to the sidelines after a period in TV commentary.
- The coach benched Wilson late into the 2023 season, a move that prevented the player from suffering an injury.
Had Wilson remained on the roster by spring 2024, his $37M salary for the following year would have been locked in. In the end, Wilson was let go, ending the ugly breakup between the quarterback and his mentor.
