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New York Giants signal-caller Russell Wilson did not hold back on online platforms this Tuesday, responding to recent 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."

The quarterback's response pointed to the notorious bounty scandal issue from 2009 to 2011, when Payton led the New Orleans Saints.

At that time, the league determined that the Saints had rewarded team members for delivering hard hits on opponents. Consequently, Payton received a suspension from the league for one season.

The Cause of the Latest Exchange

Wilson's reaction came after Payton made comments after Denver's historic 33-32 win over the Giants. Payton suggested that the team had "discovered new energy" with their new QB, who has replaced Wilson as the starting quarterback.

Additionally, Payton implied that he had informed 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 well after our game,'" the coach commented.

Context of the Coach-QB Partnership

• The quarterback was traded to the Denver from Seattle in 2022 and signed a five-year, $245M contract.
• The team went 4 wins and 11 losses in his debut year before the team brought in Payton, who was coming back to coaching after a stint in TV commentary.
• The coach replaced Wilson 15 games into the 2023 season, a decision that prevented the player from getting injured.

Had Wilson stayed on the team by spring 2024, his $37 million salary for 2025 would have been locked in. Ultimately, Wilson was released, marking the ugly breakup between the quarterback and his mentor.