Giants QB Wilson Fires Back at Former Coach Sean Payton Over Jaxson Dart Comments

New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson didn't mince words on social media this Tuesday, reacting to latest criticism from his former coach Sean Payton.

"Classless... but not surprised...," Wilson declared via social media. "Had no idea you're still bounty hunting 15+ years later through the media."

Wilson's remarks directly referenced the notorious Bounty Gate issue from 2009-11, when Payton was coaching the Saints.

At that time, the league determined that the Saints had incentivized team members for delivering aggressive tackles on opponents. As a result, Payton was suspended from the NFL for one season.

The Cause of the Recent Exchange

The quarterback's response came after Payton made comments following the Broncos' remarkable 33-32 victory over the New York. The coach suggested that the Giants had "found a little spark" with Jaxson Dart, who has replaced Wilson as the first-string QB.

Additionally, Payton hinted that he had informed team owner John Mara that he would prefer facing Wilson instead of Dart.

"I was talking to John Mara not too long ago and I said, 'We hoped that the switch would've happened well after our game,'" Payton stated.

Background of the Coach-QB Partnership

• Wilson was traded to the Broncos from Seattle in 2022 and inked a 5-year, $245 million extension.
• The Broncos finished 4-11 in his debut year prior to Denver brought in Payton, who was returning to the sidelines after a period in broadcasting.
• Payton benched Wilson late into the 2023 season, a decision that prevented the player from suffering an injury.

Had Wilson remained on the team by March 2024, his $37M salary for 2025 would have been guaranteed. Ultimately, Wilson was released, ending the contentious breakup between the quarterback and his mentor.