Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton has made it very clear that he is happy his time with Russell Wilson is over. Moreover, the 10-time Pro Bowl quarterback has given his latest sign that he, too, is perfectly fine with their parting.
Wilson lost his starting job for the New York Giants to rookie first-round pick Jaxson Dart.
After the Broncos’ win in Week 7, Payton said he had hoped the Giants would hold off on making the switch until after their game. Those remarks drew a scathing response from Wilson.
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GettyDenver Broncos head coach Sean Payton looks on before a game against the New York Giants.
The Broncos acquired Wilson in a blockbuster trade with the Seattle Seahawks in 2022. Denver also signed him to a five-year, $245 million contract extension. But Payton and general manager George Paton decided to part with polarizing veteran passer and Super Bowl champ.
Wilson spent the 2024 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, signing with the Giants this past offseason.
There is no love lost on either side.
“Classless… but not surprised….,” the typically positive Wilson posted on X on October 21. “Didn’t realize you’re still bounty hunting 15+ years later through the media. [sunglasses and smiling emojis] #LetsRide [rolling on the floor laughing emoji].”
After Sunday’s game, Payton touted his relationship with John Mara, who owns the Giants. Payton, a Super Bowl champion head coach, began his career with the organization.
However, it was impossible to miss his shade for Wilson.
“They found a little spark with that quarterback [Dart],” Payton told reporters on October 19. “I was talking to John Mara not too long ago, and I said, ‘We were hoping that that change would have happened long after our game.’”
Payton has lauded current Broncos’ QB Bo Nix for his ability to avoid sacks, noting their struggles in the past, i.e., with Wilson, among other slights to the veteran QB.
However, Wilson’s jab appears to have various jabs for Payton and the Broncos.
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GettyNew Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton reacts to a play during a game against the Minnesota Vikings.
Before the Broncos acquired him in a trade in 2023, Payton coached the New Orleans Saints from 2006 through 2021.
However, he received a suspension without pay for the 2012 season after an NFL investigation found Payton’s staff, specifically former defensive coordinator Greg Williams, operated a system of rewards for players who injured opponents during games.
Payton told Graham Besinger on “In Depth” in 2018 that the NFL was “trying to break me.”
Payton coached the Saints for nine more seasons after serving his suspension, sitting out the 2022 campaign before his move to the Broncos.
For his part, Williams was suspended indefinitely, but also served one year before returning as part of the Tennessee Titans’ staff. He has not coached in the NFL since 2020, spending the past three seasons coaching in the XFL with the DC Defenders.
Wilson’s note about sunglasses is a reference to the pre-game controversy around Dart.
And “Let’s Ride” is the slogan for Broncos Country, which Wilson once got roasted over after video emerged of him doing multiple takes to get it right for an intro video.
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GettyDenver Broncos head coach Sean Payton talks to Russell Wilson #3 before a game against the Miami Dolphins.
Payton’s affinity for structured play from the quarterback spot fits Nix, but it did not match Wilson’s style of creating with his legs and seeking out big plays. Likewise, Wilson’s large personality did not mesh with Payton’s more buttoned-up approach and expectations.
At one point, the duo got into an altercation on the sidelines during a game. The coach could be seen berating his quarterback.
Nix has also gotten animated with his head coach multiple times, but with different reactions.
Wilson’s camp filed a grievance with the league after Payton benched him over the Broncos’ final two games in 2023. Still, he largely avoided taking the kind of shot that he did in his latest message when given opportunities with the Steelers last season.
He has, however, made his feelings clear, including omitting Payton from the list of “great coaches” he has played for.
Payton cutting Wilson was not difficult despite the financial ramifications for the Broncos.
Wilson, despite his previous attempts, also clearly holds resentment for Payton. Notably, Payton’s conflicts with the former Broncos starting quarterback belie the comments from many of his former teammates. They have declared Wilson a wonderful teammate.
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