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New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson didn't mince words on online platforms this Tuesday, responding to latest criticism from his former coach Sean Payton.

"Classless... but not surprised...," Wilson declared on X. "Had no idea you're still offering rewards 15+ years later through the media."

Wilson's response pointed to the infamous bounty scandal issue from 2009-11, when Payton was coaching the New Orleans Saints.

During that period, the NFL found that the Saints had rewarded players for delivering aggressive tackles on opponents. As a result, Payton received a suspension from the NFL for one season.

What Sparked the Recent Dispute

The quarterback's reaction came after Payton made remarks after the Broncos' historic 33-32 victory over the New York. Payton remarked that the team had "found a little spark" with Jaxson Dart, who has replaced Wilson as the starting quarterback.

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

"I was talking to John Mara not too long ago and I said, 'We were hoping that the switch would've happened well after our game,'" Payton stated.

Context of the Wilson-Payton Partnership

• The quarterback joined the Denver from Seattle in 2022 and signed a 5-year, $245M contract.
• The team finished 4 wins and 11 losses in his debut year before Denver brought in Payton, who was coming back to coaching after a stint in TV commentary.
• The coach replaced Wilson late into the 2023 season, a move that prevented the player from suffering an injury.

If Wilson remained on the team by March 2024, his $37M salary for the following year would have been guaranteed. Ultimately, Wilson was let go, ending the contentious split between the quarterback and his coach.