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New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson did not hold back on social media this week, responding to recent criticism from his ex-mentor Sean Payton.

"Tasteless... but not surprised...," Wilson declared via social media. "Had no idea you're still offering rewards 15+ years later through the media."

Wilson's response directly referenced the infamous bounty scandal controversy from 2009 to 2011, when Payton was coaching the New Orleans Saints.

At that time, the NFL found that the Saints had incentivized team members for making aggressive tackles on opponents. As a result, Payton was suspended from the NFL for a full year.

What Sparked the Latest Dispute

The quarterback's reaction came after Payton delivered comments after the Broncos' remarkable 33-32 win over the Giants. The coach remarked that the Giants had "found a little spark" with Jaxson Dart, who has taken over Wilson as the first-string QB.

Moreover, Payton hinted that he had informed team owner John Mara that he would prefer facing Wilson instead of Dart.

"I was talking to John Mara not too long ago and I said, 'We hoped that change would've happened well after our game,'" the coach stated.

Context of the Coach-QB Relationship

• Wilson joined the Denver from the Seahawks in 2022 and signed a 5-year, $245M extension.
• The team finished 4-11 in his debut year before Denver brought in Payton, who was coming back to coaching 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 remained on the roster by spring 2024, his $37 million pay for the following year would have been guaranteed. In the end, Wilson was released, marking the contentious breakup between the quarterback and his coach.