Giants QB Wilson Fires Back at Ex-Mentor Sean Payton Regarding Quarterback Remarks
NY Giants signal-caller Russell Wilson did not hold back on social media this Tuesday, reacting to recent criticism from his former coach Sean Payton.
"Tasteless... but not shocked...," Wilson declared on X. "Didn't realize you're still offering rewards 15+ years later through the press."
The quarterback's response directly referenced the infamous bounty scandal issue from 2009 to 2011, 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.
What Sparked the Recent Dispute
Wilson's reaction came after Payton delivered comments after the Broncos' historic comeback victory over the Giants. Payton remarked that the team had "discovered new energy" with their new QB, who has replaced Wilson as the starting quarterback.
Moreover, Payton hinted that he had informed team owner John Mara that he would prefer playing against 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.
Background of the Coach-QB Relationship
- The quarterback was traded to the Denver from Seattle in 2022 and signed a 5-year, $245M extension.
- The Broncos finished 4 wins and 11 losses in his first season before Denver brought in Payton, who was returning to the sidelines after a stint in broadcasting.
- Payton benched Wilson late into the 2023 campaign, a move that ensured the player from suffering an injury.
If Wilson remained on the team by March 2024, his $37M pay for 2025 would have been locked in. In the end, Wilson was let go, marking the contentious breakup between the quarterback and his coach.
