Giants QB Wilson Fires Back at Former Coach Sean Payton Over Jaxson Dart Comments
New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson did not hold back on social media this Tuesday, reacting to latest criticism from his ex-mentor Sean Payton.
"Classless... but not shocked...," Wilson stated via social media. "Had no idea you're still offering rewards 15+ years later through the media."
Wilson's remarks directly referenced the infamous Bounty Gate issue from 2009 to 2011, when Payton was coaching the New Orleans Saints.
At that time, the NFL found that the Saints had incentivized players for making aggressive tackles on opponents. As a result, Payton was suspended from the league for one season.
The Cause of the Latest Dispute
The quarterback's reaction came after Payton made remarks following Denver's remarkable 33-32 win over the Giants. The coach remarked that the Giants had "found a little spark" with Jaxson Dart, who has taken over Wilson as the starting quarterback.
Additionally, Payton implied that he had informed team owner John Mara that he would rather facing Wilson over Dart.
"I was talking to John Mara not too long ago and I said, 'We were hoping that the switch would've happened well after our game,'" the coach commented.
Background of the Wilson-Payton Relationship
- Wilson was traded to the Denver from Seattle in 2022 and signed a 5-year, $245 million extension.
- The team went 4-11 in his first season before Denver hired Payton, who was coming back to the sidelines after a stint 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 $37 million pay for 2025 would have been locked in. In the end, Wilson was let go, ending the ugly breakup between the player and his coach.
