Russell Wilson Fires Back at Former Coach Sean Payton Over Jaxson Dart Comments
NY Giants signal-caller Russell Wilson did not hold back on social media this Tuesday, reacting to recent comments from his ex-mentor Sean Payton.
"Tasteless... but not surprised...," Wilson stated on X. "Had no idea you're still offering rewards 15+ years later through the press."
Wilson's response pointed to the infamous bounty scandal controversy from 2009-11, when Payton was coaching the New Orleans Saints.
At that time, the league determined that the Saints had rewarded players for making aggressive tackles on opponents. As a result, Payton received a suspension from the NFL for one season.
The Cause of the Latest Exchange
Wilson's response came after Payton made remarks following the Broncos' remarkable 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 starting quarterback.
Moreover, Payton implied that he had told team owner John Mara that he would rather facing Wilson instead of Dart.
"I was talking to John Mara recently and I said, 'We were hoping that change would've happened well after our game,'" Payton stated.
Context of the Wilson-Payton Relationship
- Wilson joined the Denver from the Seahawks in 2022 and inked a 5-year, $245 million contract.
- The team went 4 wins and 11 losses in his first season prior to the team hired Payton, who was returning to the sidelines after a stint in broadcasting.
- Payton replaced Wilson late into the 2023 season, a move that prevented the quarterback from getting injured.
If Wilson remained on the team by spring 2024, his $37M salary for the following year would have been locked in. Ultimately, Wilson was released, marking the ugly split between the player and his mentor.
