Russell Wilson Rips 'Classless' Sean Payton for Dart Remarks, 'Still Bounty Hunting'

It's clear that there's no love lost between New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson and Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton, whom he played under in 2023.

Following Sunday's 33-32 comeback win over the Giants, Payton appeared to shade Wilson while praising rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart, telling reporters, "They found a little spark with that quarterback. I was talking to John Mara not too long ago, and I said we were hoping that that change would've happened long after our game."

Wilson appeared to respond to his former coach in a tweet on Tuesday, calling him "classless" and accusing him of "still bounty hunting."

Payton, who was the head coach of the New Orleans Saints at the time, was suspended for a full season back in 2012 after the team was found to have been running a bounty program. Payton accepted responsibility for his role and apologized:

"I share and fully support the league's concerns and goals on player safety,'' Payton said in a statement in 2012. "It is and should be paramount. Respecting our great game and the NFL shield is extremely important to me. Our organization will implement all necessary protections and protocols and I will be more vigilant going forward. I am sorry for what happened and, as head coach, take full responsibility. Finally I want to thank (Saints owner Tom Benson), our players and all Saints fans for their overwhelming support.''

Payton famously ended his retirement after a year away from football to take over the Broncos in 2023 following their disastrous first year with Wilson after he was acquired in a 2022 trade with the Seattle Seahawks. While the veteran signal-caller improved from his first year in Denver, he was benched with two games remaining in the 2023 season despite leading the team to a 7-8 record and throwing for 26 touchdowns against eight interceptions. He was released that offseason despite the team still having to pay him $39 million for the 2024 season.

Wilson's ill-fated tenure in Denver was the tipping point in his steady fall from grace over the last few years. He spent the 2024 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers and posted middling numbers with 16 touchdowns and five interceptions in 11 starts. He started the first three games of the 2025 campaign for the Giants and had an 0-3 record before being benched in favor of Dart.

The rookie threw for 283 yards, three touchdowns and an interception in the loss, as the Broncos scored all 33 of their points in the fourth quarter.

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Now that the game is behind them, perhaps Wilson and Payton will move on and focus on what's ahead for their respective teams.