🔗 Share this article Russell Wilson Fires Back at Former Coach Sean Payton Over Jaxson Dart Remarks NY Giants quarterback Russell Wilson didn't mince words on online platforms this week, responding to recent comments from his ex-mentor Sean Payton. "Classless... but not shocked...," Wilson declared on X. "Had no idea you're still offering rewards 15+ years later through the press." Wilson's remarks pointed to the infamous bounty scandal controversy from 2009-11, when Payton led the Saints. At that time, the NFL found that the Saints had rewarded team members for making hard hits on rival teams. Consequently, Payton was suspended from the NFL for one season. The Cause of the Recent Exchange Wilson's reaction came after Payton made comments following the Broncos' remarkable 33-32 win over the Giants. Payton suggested that the Giants had "discovered new energy" with their new QB, who has replaced Wilson as the starting quarterback. Moreover, Payton implied that he had told team owner John Mara that he would prefer playing against Wilson instead of 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 commented. Background of the Wilson-Payton Partnership The quarterback was traded to the Denver from the Seahawks in 2022 and signed a five-year, $245M extension. The Broncos finished 4 wins and 11 losses in his debut year before Denver brought in Payton, who was coming back to coaching after a stint in broadcasting. The coach replaced Wilson late into the 2023 campaign, a move that ensured the quarterback from getting injured. Had Wilson remained on the roster by March 2024, his $37 million pay for the following year would have been locked in. In the end, Wilson was let go, ending the ugly breakup between the player and his mentor.