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NFL quarterback Russell Wilson and his former coach, sean paytonIt appears the conflict is still going on.
No longer part of the same organization, the two went head-to-head over the weekend as Wilson’s team, New York Giants, Payton faced the Denver Broncos.
The pair’s feud dates back to 2023 when Wilson was set to become the team’s starting quarterback, until Payton was named head coach and Wilson was fired mid-season in favor of Bo Nix. Following that season, Wilson was released from the team and spent the 2024 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers before making his Giants debut as the starting quarterback this year. However he has since been on the bench and serves as a backup,
next Sunday’s close gamePayton told reporters that instead of his Broncos playing against the Giants’ new starting quarterback, rookie Jackson Dart, he would have preferred to face Wilson, seemingly taking a dig at his former player for being overshadowed by a newcomer.
“He’s got a little spark at that quarterback,” Payton said of Dart. “I was talking [New York Giants owner] John Mara said it not too long ago and I said that we were hoping that there would be a change after a long time since our game.
Wilson then responded to Payton’s comments in a post on
It appears the quarterback was referencing Payton’s “Bountygate” scandal, in which a bounty system was used by the New Orleans Saints from the 2009 to 2011 NFL seasons, as players were given bonuses for intentionally hitting opposing players.
Payton, who was the team’s head coach at the time, has denied involvement in the bounty system, although he served a one-year suspension from the NFL without pay in 2012.
Despite Wilson being benched for the second time in his career, he told reporters last month that he would continue to help Darts improve while still planning to play in the NFL himself.
“I’m not done,” Wilson said. “I have a lot of confidence in myself and I know what I’m capable of. Life is a 16-round fight sometimes… and sometimes you feel like, at this point, you’re on the receiving end of something heavy. I just believe I’m still in Round 5, Round 6.”
The Giants will face the Philadelphia Eagles for the second time in Week 8 of the NFL season, while the Broncos will play against the Cowboys.