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

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

Wilson's response pointed to the infamous bounty scandal issue from 2009-11, when Payton was coaching the Saints.

At that time, the league determined that the Saints had rewarded team members for making aggressive tackles on opponents. As a result, Payton was suspended from the NFL for one season.

What Sparked the Recent Dispute

Wilson's response came after Payton delivered remarks after Denver's historic 33-32 win over the Giants. The coach remarked that the team had "discovered new energy" with Jaxson Dart, who has replaced Wilson as the starting quarterback.

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

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

Context of the Coach-QB Partnership

• The quarterback was traded to the Broncos from Seattle in 2022 and inked a 5-year, $245M contract.
• The Broncos finished 4 wins and 11 losses in his first season prior to Denver hired Payton, who was coming back to the sidelines after a period in TV commentary.
• Payton benched Wilson 15 games into the 2023 season, a move that prevented the player from getting injured.

Had Wilson remained on the team by spring 2024, his $37 million pay for the following year would have been guaranteed. Ultimately, Wilson was let go, marking the contentious breakup between the player and his mentor.