Giants QB Wilson Responds at Ex-Mentor Sean Payton Over Quarterback Remarks
NY Giants signal-caller Russell Wilson didn't mince words on online platforms this week, responding to latest comments from his former coach Sean Payton.
"Classless... but not shocked...," Wilson stated via social media. "Had no idea you're still bounty hunting 15+ years later through the press."
The quarterback's remarks pointed to the notorious bounty scandal issue from 2009 to 2011, when Payton was coaching the Saints.
At that time, the NFL determined that the Saints had incentivized team members for delivering aggressive tackles on rival teams. Consequently, Payton was suspended from the NFL for a full year.
What Sparked the Latest Dispute
Wilson's response came after Payton delivered comments following Denver's historic comeback win over the Giants. Payton suggested that the Giants had "found a little spark" with Jaxson Dart, who has taken over Wilson as the first-string QB.
Additionally, Payton hinted that he had told team owner John Mara that he would rather playing against Wilson instead of Dart.
"I was talking to John Mara not too long ago and I said, 'We hoped that the switch would've happened well after our game,'" the coach stated.
Context of the Wilson-Payton Partnership
- The quarterback was traded to the Denver from Seattle in 2022 and signed a 5-year, $245 million contract.
- The team went 4 wins and 11 losses in his first season before Denver brought in Payton, who was coming back to coaching after a period in TV commentary.
- The coach benched Wilson late into the 2023 campaign, a decision that prevented the player from getting injured.
If Wilson remained on the roster by March 2024, his $37M pay for 2025 would have been locked in. Ultimately, Wilson was let go, marking the contentious breakup between the quarterback and his mentor.
