Broncos' Sean Payton says Jaxson Dart praise wasn't a shot at Russell Wilson: 'That was strictly about Dart' Andy BackstromOctober 23, 2025 at 12:01 AM 0 Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton insisted Wednesday that his Jaxson Dart praise this past weekend wasn't a shot at Russell Wilson, who quarte...
- - Broncos' Sean Payton says Jaxson Dart praise wasn't a shot at Russell Wilson: 'That was strictly about Dart'
Andy BackstromOctober 23, 2025 at 12:01 AM
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Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton insisted Wednesday that his Jaxson Dart praise this past weekend wasn't a shot at Russell Wilson, who quarterbacked Payton's Broncos in 2023 and most recently was benched in favor of the rookie Dart after struggling as the New York Giants' starter the first three weeks of the 2025 season.
After the Broncos scored 33 points during a fourth-quarter comeback for the ages against the Giants on Sunday, Payton spoke glowingly about Dart, who threw three touchdowns and ran for another in his fourth career NFL start.
"Look, in the euphoria, the way that game unfolded, that was strictly about Dart," Payton clarified Wednesday. "And that was in no way, shape or form anything that was directed at Russ.
"And I might be able to see how he might perceive that. But coming off that win and watching how [Dart] played ... yeah, that wasn't any intention at all."
Broncos coach Sean Payton on his comment said he was just talking about Jaxson Dart and it wasn't shade to Russell Wilson pic.twitter.com/Szo19h9TCs
— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) October 22, 2025
While Payton didn't mention Wilson's name Sunday, Wilson clearly took offense to his former coach's postgame comments in the wake of Denver's shocking 33-32 win.
"They found a little spark with that quarterback," Payton said of Dart at the podium Sunday. "I was talking to [Giants co-owner] John Mara not too long ago, and I said, 'We were hoping that change would've happened long after our game.'"
Normally overwhelmingly positive, and normally glued to the high road — at least publicly — Wilson veered off course and swung at his former coach.
"Classless … but not surprised," Wilson wrote Tuesday on X before referencing the New Orleans Saints' "bounty gate" scandal that resulted in Payton being suspended for the entire 2012 season.
"Didn't realize you're still bounty hunting 15+ years later through the media," the 10-time Pro Bowler and one-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback noted, along with a #LetsRide, Wilson's Broncos catchphrase that turned into a meme during his two-season stint with the franchise that began with him signing a five-year extension worth $245 million in new money.
Classless… but not surprised….Didn't realize you're still bounty hunting 15+ years later through the media. 😎😂 #LetsRide 🤣
— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) October 21, 2025
It's no secret the Payton-Wilson relationship was icy in Denver. The Broncos moved off the former Seattle Seahawks icon, swallowed a ton of dead money and Payton handpicked Bo Nix to return the franchise to the playoffs.
Nix accomplished that feat as a rookie last season, which Wilson spent with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Both suffered first-round exits in the postseason.
With the Giants, a 36-year-old Wilson took his early-season benching on the chin, committing to helping Dart and New York the rest of the year.
Wilson didn't take Payton's postgame comments lightly, though.
Source: "AOL Sports"
Source: VoXi MAG
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