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

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

The quarterback's response directly referenced the infamous Bounty Gate issue from 2009-11, when Payton led the New Orleans Saints.

At that time, the league found that the Saints had incentivized team members for delivering hard hits on rival teams. As a result, Payton received a suspension from the league for a full year.

What Sparked the Recent Exchange

Wilson's response came after Payton made comments after Denver's remarkable 33-32 victory over the New York. The coach remarked that the team had "found a little spark" with Jaxson Dart, who has replaced Wilson as the starting quarterback.

Additionally, Payton hinted that he had told Giants owner John Mara that he would rather playing against Wilson instead of Dart.

"I spoke to John Mara not too long ago and I said, 'We hoped that change would've happened long after our game,'" Payton stated.

Background of the Coach-QB Partnership

• Wilson joined the Broncos from the Seahawks in 2022 and inked a five-year, $245M extension.
• The team finished 4-11 in his debut year prior to the team hired Payton, who was coming back to coaching after a stint in broadcasting.
• The coach replaced Wilson 15 games into the 2023 season, a move that ensured the player from suffering an injury.

Had Wilson stayed on the team by spring 2024, his $37M salary for the following year would have been guaranteed. In the end, Wilson was released, marking the ugly breakup between the quarterback and his mentor.