Russell Wilson Responds at Ex-Mentor Sean Payton Regarding Jaxson Dart Comments
NY Giants signal-caller 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 stated via social media. "Had no idea you're still bounty hunting 15+ years later through the press."
Wilson's response directly referenced the notorious bounty scandal issue from 2009-11, when Payton was coaching the Saints.
At that time, the league found that the Saints had incentivized team members for delivering aggressive tackles on rival teams. Consequently, Payton was suspended from the league for a full year.
What Sparked the Latest Exchange
Wilson's response came after Payton delivered comments following Denver's historic 33-32 victory over the Giants. The coach suggested that the Giants had "discovered new energy" with Jaxson Dart, who has replaced Wilson as the starting quarterback.
Moreover, Payton hinted that he had told Giants owner John Mara that he would rather facing Wilson instead of Dart.
"I spoke to John Mara recently and I said, 'We were hoping that change would've happened well after our game,'" Payton commented.
Context of the Wilson-Payton Relationship
- The quarterback joined the Denver from Seattle in 2022 and inked a five-year, $245 million contract.
- The team finished 4 wins and 11 losses in his first season prior to the team hired Payton, who was coming back to the sidelines after a period in broadcasting.
- The coach benched Wilson late into the 2023 campaign, a decision that prevented the quarterback from getting injured.
If Wilson stayed on the team by March 2024, his $37M pay for 2025 would have been locked in. In the end, Wilson was released, ending the ugly split between the quarterback and his mentor.
