Giants QB Wilson Responds at Former Coach Sean Payton Over Jaxson Dart Comments
New York Giants signal-caller Russell Wilson did not hold back on social media this week, responding to recent comments from his former coach Sean Payton.
"Tasteless... but not shocked...," Wilson stated on X. "Didn't realize you're still bounty hunting 15+ years later through the press."
The quarterback's response directly referenced the infamous Bounty Gate issue from 2009-11, when Payton was coaching the New Orleans Saints.
At that time, the NFL found that the Saints had incentivized team members for delivering aggressive tackles on rival teams. Consequently, Payton was suspended from the NFL for one season.
The Cause of the Recent Exchange
Wilson's response came after Payton delivered comments after 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 replaced Wilson as the first-string QB.
Moreover, Payton hinted that he had told team owner John Mara that he would rather facing Wilson instead of Dart.
"I spoke to John Mara recently and I said, 'We were hoping that change would've happened long after our game,'" the coach stated.
Context of the Wilson-Payton Partnership
- The quarterback joined the Denver from Seattle in 2022 and signed a five-year, $245M extension.
- The team went 4 wins and 11 losses in his first season before Denver brought in Payton, who was returning to the sidelines after a period in broadcasting.
- Payton replaced Wilson late into the 2023 campaign, a decision that ensured the player from getting injured.
If Wilson stayed on the roster by spring 2024, his $37M pay for 2025 would have been guaranteed. Ultimately, Wilson was released, marking the contentious split between the quarterback and his mentor.
