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NY Giants quarterback Russell Wilson did not hold back on social media this week, responding to latest criticism from his former coach Sean Payton.

"Tasteless... but not surprised...," Wilson stated on X. "Had no idea you're still offering rewards 15+ years later through the press."

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

During that period, the league determined that the Saints had incentivized team members for delivering hard hits on rival teams. As a result, Payton received a suspension from the NFL for one season.

The Cause of the Recent Dispute

Wilson's response came after Payton made comments after the Broncos' remarkable comeback victory over the Giants. The coach remarked that the team had "discovered new energy" with Jaxson Dart, who has taken over Wilson as the starting quarterback.

Moreover, Payton implied that he had told team owner John Mara that he would rather facing Wilson instead of Dart.

"I was talking to John Mara recently and I said, 'We hoped that the switch would've happened long after our game,'" the coach stated.

Background of the Wilson-Payton Partnership

• The quarterback was traded to the Denver from the Seahawks in 2022 and signed a five-year, $245M contract.
• The Broncos went 4 wins and 11 losses in his debut year before Denver hired Payton, who was coming back to coaching after a period in broadcasting.
• The coach benched Wilson late into the 2023 season, a decision that ensured the player from suffering an injury.

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 contentious split between the player and his mentor.