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

NY Giants quarterback Russell Wilson did not hold back on social media this Tuesday, responding to recent comments from his ex-mentor Sean Payton.

"Tasteless... but not shocked...," Wilson declared on X. "Didn't realize you're still bounty hunting 15+ years later through the press."

The quarterback's response directly referenced the infamous bounty scandal issue from 2009-11, when Payton was coaching the Saints.

At that time, the NFL determined that the Saints had incentivized team members for delivering aggressive tackles on opponents. Consequently, Payton was suspended from the NFL for a full year.

The Cause of the Latest Dispute

The quarterback's reaction came after Payton made remarks following Denver's historic comeback win over the New York. Payton suggested that the team had "discovered new energy" with their new QB, who has taken over Wilson as the first-string QB.

Additionally, Payton hinted that he had informed Giants owner John Mara that he would rather facing Wilson over Dart.

"I spoke to John Mara recently and I said, 'We hoped that the switch would've happened well after our game,'" the coach commented.

Context of the Wilson-Payton Partnership

• Wilson was traded to the Denver from the Seahawks in 2022 and inked a five-year, $245M extension.
• The team finished 4-11 in his first season before Denver brought in Payton, who was coming back to coaching after a stint in TV commentary.
• The coach replaced Wilson late into the 2023 season, a decision that ensured the player from suffering an injury.

If Wilson remained on the roster by spring 2024, his $37M pay for 2025 would have been locked in. Ultimately, Wilson was released, ending the contentious split between the quarterback and his coach.