Former Denver Broncos QB Russell Wilson surprised a lot of people when he barked back at Sean Payton.
Wilson, who normally doesn’t say much, called Payton “classless” and brought up “bounty hunting” in a post on X that garnered more than 44 million views.
After the Broncos stunned the Giants on in October with a shocking 33-32 win, Payton made a curious comment postgame about Wilson. He was the backup QB in New York behind rookie Jaxson Dart.
“They found a little spark with that quarterback. I was talking to (Giants co-owner) John Mara not too long ago and I said we were hoping that that change would have happened long after our game,” Payton told reporters.
Clearly, it was a dig at Russell Wilson, with Payton wishing the Denver defense got to face him instead of Dart.
Wilson apparently caught wind of the comments and took to X to fire back with a couple of digs. Payton was suspended a year by the NFL in 2012 for his alleged role in placing bounties on opposing players while the head coach of the Saints.
Payton later clarified that his comments were “strictly” about Jaxson Dart, but this story still has life almost six months later.
Wilson was on the “Bussin’ With The Boys” podcast with Taylor Lewan and Will Compton and was asked about the viral post. A fair warning, there’s vulgar language from Lewan in this clip.
Russ finally addresses the Sean Payton fallout
OUT NOW 🎙️ https://t.co/4iBSSmNLMa pic.twitter.com/vx9aEDgQe9
— Bussin' With The Boys (@BussinWTB) March 3, 2026
“I don’t say much. I never hardly say anything,” Russell Wilson told Lewan and Compton. “But sometimes you get fatigued of people talking about you.”
Payton seemed to take jabs at Wilson at times, but Wilson also cost the Broncos the largest dead cap hit in NFL history when they released him, so it’s easy to see why. His play wasn’t up to par in Denver, but Wilson still defended why he tweeted what he did.
“It’s one thing for people that maybe aren’t in the field or people saying bots or whatever, I don’t worry about the stuff. But to me when you’ve been in the ring or on the same side of this and that. And I’ve got the same amount of (Super Bowl) rings as you’ve got, meaning Sean. Listen I’ve got a lot of respect as a play-caller for him this and that, but to take a shot, I don’t like it. I don’t think it’s necessary,” Wilson said.
Russell Wilson goes on to say “I’ve beaten Sean too,” and that it’s “not a matter of disrespect,” but Wilson doesn’t want to be disrespected.
It’s a fascinating answer from Wilson, who has bounced to Pittsburgh then New York after being a huge bust in Denver. The Broncos took a swing at one of the biggest trades in NFL history and it failed. Things have ultimately turned around thanks to Payton drafting QB Bo Nix.
At the end of the day this is a perfect offseason story, especially with Russell Wilson pointing out that he and Payton both have one championship ring.
We’ll see if Payton responds next time he talks with the media — or if this feud can finally be dead.