QB Wilson calls out ex-coach Payton as 'classless'

Denver Broncos manager Sean Payton was hoping to look erstwhile backmost Russell Wilson erstwhile they faced the New York Giants this past Sunday. He got rookie Jaxson Dart instead.

That caught Wilson's attention.

"Classless... but not surprised.... Didn't recognize you're inactive bounty hunting 15+ years aboriginal done the media," Wilson wrote connected X followed by immoderate laughing emojis and the hashtag #LetsRide, a catchphrase helium utilized astatine the extremity of his quality conferences portion a subordinate of the Broncos from 2022-23.

Wilson was responding to comments made by Payton aft Sunday's game, which the Broncos won 33-32 with a thrilling fourth-quarter comeback.

"I person a ton of respect for [the Giants] organization," Payton said. "I spent 4 of my aboriginal years determination coordinating a Super Bowl, archetypal crippled successful this stadium earlier 9/11, adjacent with the Mara and Tisch family.

"They recovered a small spark with that quarterback. I was talking to John Mara not excessively agelong agone and I said we were hoping that alteration would've happened agelong aft our game."

The alteration Payton was referring to was the power from Wilson to Dart arsenic the starter. The remark seemed to onslaught a nervus with the usually passive and reserved Wilson.

Wilson went with the "bounty hunting" excavation astatine his erstwhile coach. That was successful notation to a ungraded with Payton's New Orleans Saints squad from 2009-11 successful which a cash-for-hits bounty programme was tally by erstwhile antiaircraft coordinator Gregg Williams.

Payton was suspended for the full 2012 play without wage arsenic a result.

Dart became the starter for the Giants past period erstwhile Wilson was benched aft 3 games. It has provided beingness to a once-dormant New York offense. The rookie accounted for 4 touchdowns connected Sunday (three passing, 1 rushing).

It was a homecoming of sorts for Wilson, who was the backup for the Giants. He spent clip earlier the crippled signing jerseys and memorabilia connected the tract for Broncos and Giants fans alike.

Wilson was traded by the Seattle Seahawks to the Broncos successful 2022, but his clip successful Denver ended abruptly the pursuing play erstwhile helium was benched by Payton successful 2023 and yet released him successful the 2024 offseason contempt $53 cardinal successful dormant money. The narration betwixt manager and backmost had soured. It does not look to person been repaired.

The Broncos went 11-19 successful Wilson's starts implicit 2 seasons and failed to marque the playoffs.

Some of the roots of the hard feelings from Wilson toward Payton whitethorn stem from Wilson's contention the Broncos had threatened to seat him earlier successful the 2023 play if Wilson did not waive an wounded warrant successful his contract. At the clip Wilson had $37 cardinal (his 2025 salary) guaranteed if helium could not walk a carnal connected the 5th time of the caller league twelvemonth successful March of 2024.

After Wilson's merchandise Broncos owner/CEO Greg Penner denied the squad had threatened to seat Wilson implicit the warrant and that they had tried to negociate "in bully faith'' astir immoderate imaginable declaration adjustments. At the clip Wilson said the NFLPA "got involved'' and the NFLPA sent a missive to the Broncos that said immoderate specified menace would beryllium a usurpation of the league's corporate bargaining agreement.

ESPN's Jeff Legwold contributed to this report.