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New York Giants signal-caller Russell Wilson did not hold back on social media this Tuesday, responding to latest criticism from his ex-mentor Sean Payton.

"Tasteless... but not shocked...," Wilson declared via social media. "Had no idea you're still offering rewards 15+ years later through the media."

Wilson's remarks directly referenced the notorious Bounty Gate controversy from 2009 to 2011, when Payton was coaching the New Orleans Saints.

At that time, the NFL found that the Saints had incentivized team members for making hard hits on rival teams. As a result, Payton received a suspension from the NFL for one season.

What Sparked the Recent Dispute

Wilson's response came after Payton delivered comments following Denver's historic comeback victory over the Giants. Payton remarked that the team had "found a little spark" with Jaxson Dart, who has taken over Wilson as the first-string QB.

Additionally, Payton hinted that he had told team owner John Mara that he would prefer facing Wilson instead of Dart.

"I spoke to John Mara recently and I said, 'We were hoping that the switch would've happened well after our game,'" the coach stated.

Context of the Wilson-Payton Relationship

• The quarterback was traded to the Broncos from Seattle in 2022 and inked a 5-year, $245M contract.
• The team finished 4-11 in his first season prior to the team brought in Payton, who was coming back to coaching after a period in broadcasting.
• The coach benched Wilson 15 games into the 2023 season, a decision that prevented the player from suffering an injury.

If Wilson remained on the team by spring 2024, his $37M pay for the following year would have been locked in. Ultimately, Wilson was released, marking the contentious breakup between the quarterback and his coach.