Payton’s Comments and Wilson’s Response Spark Controversy After Broncos’ Comeback Win
In the aftermath of the Denver Broncos’ thrilling 33-32 comeback victory over the New York Giants, head coach Sean Payton made comments about Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart that have reignited his contentious relationship with former Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson. During his post-game press conference, Payton acknowledged Dart’s performance, saying, “They found a little spark with that quarterback,” before revealing a conversation with Giants owner John Mara where he admitted, “we were hoping that change would’ve happened long after our game.” While Payton may have simply been acknowledging that Dart gave his defense problems—the Giants led 26-8 late in the fourth quarter before Denver’s comeback—Wilson interpreted the comments as a personal slight and responded forcefully on social media.
Wilson, now a backup with the Giants after a tumultuous stint in Denver under Payton, didn’t hold back in his response, calling Payton’s remarks “Classless… but not surprised.” He went further, adding a pointed reference to Payton’s past: “Didn’t realize you’re still bounty hunting 15+ years later through the media,” accompanied by laughing emojis and his signature #LetsRide hashtag from his Broncos days. The “bounty hunting” comment deliberately referenced Payton’s infamous scandal as head coach of the New Orleans Saints, where the NFL found his team guilty of placing bounties on targeted players, resulting in Payton receiving a season-long suspension in 2012 as part of the league’s punishment. This exchange highlights the lingering tension between the two, whose professional relationship was notoriously rocky during their brief time together in Denver.
The history between Wilson and Payton is fraught with controversy. After Wilson was traded from the Seattle Seahawks to the Broncos in 2022, their partnership quickly deteriorated. Payton ultimately benched Wilson in 2023, and the quarterback was released during the 2024 offseason despite Denver taking on a staggering $85 million in dead money. Wilson’s tenure with the Broncos ended with an 11-19 record as a starter and no playoff appearances. The conflict intensified when Wilson claimed the Broncos threatened to bench him earlier in 2023 if he didn’t waive an injury guarantee in his contract worth $37 million. Though Broncos owner Greg Penner denied making threats and said they wanted to negotiate “in good faith” about contract adjustments, the situation became serious enough that Wilson involved the NFL Players Association, which sent a letter to the Broncos stating that any such threat would violate the league’s Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Following his release from Denver, Wilson signed a veteran minimum deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers before joining the Giants in the 2024 offseason. New York also signed Jameis Winston to provide veteran leadership for Dart, whom the team had traded back into the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft to select from Ole Miss. Head coach Brian Daboll initially named Wilson the starter throughout training camp, but after opening the season with three consecutive losses, he made the decision to switch to the rookie Dart. The move initially paid dividends when Dart led the Giants to a surprising victory over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 4, his first NFL start. The team appeared poised for a second straight win against the Broncos, building a substantial lead before Denver engineered what would become the season’s biggest comeback to date.
Sunday’s game itself was a dramatic affair that saw the Giants build a commanding 26-8 lead late in the game, only to watch it slip away as the Broncos mounted an incredible comeback capped by Wil Lutz’s game-winning field goal. Despite the heartbreaking loss, the Giants appear committed to Dart as their starter for the foreseeable future, with Wilson assuming the backup role. The rookie quarterback has shown promise in his limited action, providing a spark to a Giants offense that struggled under Wilson’s direction in the season’s opening weeks. For the Broncos, the victory represents a significant momentum boost as they continue to establish their identity under Payton’s leadership.
This latest exchange between Payton and Wilson highlights how personal relationships and past conflicts continue to influence the NFL landscape even years after direct collaborations end. For Wilson, who experienced remarkable success during his time in Seattle before the difficult chapter in Denver, the comments from his former coach clearly struck a nerve. For Payton, who has been working to rebuild the Broncos organization in his image after the Wilson experiment failed, the victory against the Giants offers vindication of his decision-making while simultaneously reopening old wounds. As both men continue their careers on separate paths, this incident serves as a reminder of how the NFL remains not just a business but a deeply personal endeavor for those involved at its highest levels.
