🔗 Share this article

New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson didn't mince words on social media this Tuesday, reacting to recent comments from his ex-mentor Sean Payton.

"Tasteless... but not surprised...," Wilson declared via social media. "Didn't realize you're still bounty hunting 15+ years later through the press."

The quarterback's remarks directly referenced the notorious bounty scandal issue from 2009 to 2011, when Payton led the New Orleans Saints.

During that period, the league found that the Saints had rewarded players for making hard hits on rival teams. Consequently, Payton was suspended from the NFL for a full year.

The Cause of the Recent Dispute

Wilson's response came after Payton delivered comments after the Broncos' remarkable comeback win over the Giants. Payton suggested that the Giants had "discovered new energy" with Jaxson Dart, who has taken over Wilson as the starting quarterback.

Additionally, Payton hinted that he had informed team owner John Mara that he would prefer 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 stated.

Context of the Wilson-Payton Relationship

• The quarterback was traded to the Denver from Seattle in 2022 and inked a five-year, $245 million extension.
• The team went 4-11 in his debut year before Denver brought in Payton, who was coming back to coaching after a period in broadcasting.
• The coach benched Wilson 15 games into the 2023 campaign, a decision that prevented the quarterback from getting injured.

Had Wilson remained on the team by March 2024, his $37M salary for 2025 would have been locked in. Ultimately, Wilson was let go, ending the ugly breakup between the quarterback and his mentor.