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New York Giants signal-caller Russell Wilson did not hold back on online platforms this week, responding to recent criticism from his former coach Sean Payton.

"Tasteless... but not surprised...," Wilson stated via social media. "Didn't realize you're still bounty hunting 15+ years later through the press."

The quarterback's response directly referenced the notorious Bounty Gate issue from 2009-11, when Payton was coaching the Saints.

During that period, the NFL found that the Saints had incentivized players for delivering hard hits on rival teams. Consequently, Payton received a suspension from the league for a full year.

What Sparked the Recent Dispute

Wilson's response came after Payton made remarks following the Broncos' historic 33-32 win over the New York. The coach remarked that the Giants had "found a little spark" with Jaxson Dart, who has taken over Wilson as the starting quarterback.

Additionally, Payton hinted that he had told Giants owner John Mara that he would prefer facing Wilson over Dart.

"I spoke to John Mara recently and I said, 'We were hoping that change would've happened well after our game,'" Payton stated.

Context of the Coach-QB Relationship

• Wilson was traded to the Broncos from the Seahawks in 2022 and inked a five-year, $245M extension.
• The Broncos went 4 wins and 11 losses in his first season before the team hired Payton, who was coming back to coaching after a stint in broadcasting.
• The coach replaced Wilson 15 games into the 2023 campaign, a decision that prevented the player from getting injured.

Had Wilson remained on the team by spring 2024, his $37 million pay for 2025 would have been locked in. In the end, Wilson was let go, ending the ugly breakup between the quarterback and his coach.