Russell Wilson Responds at Former Coach Sean Payton Over Jaxson Dart Remarks
New York Giants signal-caller Russell Wilson didn't mince words on social media this Tuesday, reacting to recent comments from his former coach Sean Payton.
"Tasteless... but not shocked...," Wilson declared via social media. "Didn't realize you're still bounty hunting 15+ years later through the press."
Wilson's remarks directly referenced the notorious bounty scandal issue from 2009 to 2011, when Payton was coaching the Saints.
During that period, the NFL found that the Saints had incentivized team members for delivering aggressive tackles on rival teams. As a result, Payton was suspended from the league for a full year.
The Cause of the Latest Exchange
The quarterback's reaction came after Payton delivered comments following Denver's historic 33-32 win over the Giants. The coach remarked that the team had "discovered new energy" with Jaxson Dart, who has taken over Wilson as the first-string QB.
Moreover, Payton implied that he had told Giants owner John Mara that he would prefer facing Wilson instead of Dart.
"I spoke to John Mara not too long ago and I said, 'We were hoping that the switch would've happened long after our game,'" the coach stated.
Background of the Wilson-Payton Relationship
- Wilson was traded to the Denver from the Seahawks in 2022 and inked a 5-year, $245M contract.
- The team finished 4 wins and 11 losses in his first season prior to Denver hired Payton, who was coming back to the sidelines after a period in broadcasting.
- Payton replaced Wilson 15 games into the 2023 season, a move that prevented the player from getting injured.
Had Wilson stayed on the roster by spring 2024, his $37M pay for the following year would have been locked in. Ultimately, Wilson was released, marking the ugly split between the player and his mentor.