Ex-Steelers QB Russell Wilson Claps Back at His Former Head Coach With Major Shade
Quarterback Russell Wilson stressed throughout his tenure with the Pittsburgh Steelers how much he enjoyed playing for Mike Tomlin. Wilson hasn’t shared those same feelings for his former head coach with the Denver Broncos — Sean Payton.
He’s unlikely to anytime soon.
There appears to be no love loss between Wilson and Payton. This week, the two exchanged insults through traditional and social media.
Wilson fired his shade at the Broncos head coach with a post on X on Tuesday.
“Classless … but not surprised …,” wrote Wilson.
“Didn’t realize you’re still bounty hunting 15+ years later through the media.”
Classless… but not surprised…. Didn’t realize you’re still bounty hunting 15+ years later through the media. 😎😂 #LetsRide 🤣
That post referenced Payton’s year-long suspension for “Bounty Gate. An NFL investigation in 2012 found former New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams paid bonuses in a bounty system to his players for deliberately injuring opposing players.
Williams allegedly ran the bounty system under Payton, who was the team’s head coach.
Wilson’s post was in response to Payton essentially telling reporters he would have preferred to face Wilson instead of rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart in Week 7.
“They found a little spark with that quarterback,” Payton said of Dart. “I was talking to [Giants owner] John Mara not too long ago, and I said, ‘We were hoping that that change would have happened long after our game.'”
Russell Wilson Responds to Sean Payton
There have been a lot of rumblings over the past year and a half that Payton didn’t want anything to do with Wilson after their first year together in Denver. Those rumblings reached a fever pitch after December 16, 2023 when cameras caught Payton irate at Wilson along the Broncos sidelines in a game against the Detroit Lions.
After the 2023 season, the Broncos released Wilson despite owning him $39 million.
The Steelers signed Wilson in NFL free agency. Pittsburgh was able to ink him to a league-minimum deal because his contract with the Broncos meant Denver owned him the difference from $39 million.
In summary, Payton and the Broncos paid Wilson about $37.8 million last season to play for the Steelers.
That’s an obvious sign a coach doesn’t like a quarterback.
Wilson has not really addressed his relationship with Payton publicly. But clearly, the quarterback has had enough of Payton subtlety throwing insults at him.
Steelers Media Defends Wilson Against Payton
Things didn’t end well for Wilson in Pittsburgh. After beginning 6-1 as a starter, the Steelers lost their last four regular season games in 2024.
Including the playoffs, Wilson finished with an even 6-6 record with the Steelers.
Even still, some Steelers pundits were glad to see Wilson go on the offensive against Payton after receiving shade from the Broncos head coach.
It may have been classless for Payton to say he’d rather face Wilson than a rookie quarterback. But it’s hard to deny that the Broncos, and Steelers for that matter, are better off without Wilson.
With their comeback against Wilson’s Giants on Sunday, the Broncos improved to 5-2 this season. The Steelers are 4-2 with Aaron Rodgers behind center.
Wilson led the Giants to an 0-3 start before getting benched in favor of Dart. Wilson has lost his last seven regular season starts.
He is 23-35 as a starting quarterback since the start of the 2021 campaign.
Justin Jefferson Gives Honest Message on Vikings’ QB Situation
After a sluggish start to the 2025 NFL season, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson has found his rhythm. The LSU product is hitting his stride, topping 100 receiving yards in two of his last three games.
Jefferson’s resurgence has coincided with veteran quarterback Carson Wentz stepping in for the injured J.J. McCarthy. Since Wentz took over in Week 3, Jefferson has tallied at least five catches and 75-plus yards in every outing.
Jefferson has been in the NFL for six seasons and has played with different quarterbacks. Whether it’s Wentz, McCarthy, Darnold, or Cousins, Jefferson was asked about his ability to adapt and produce impressive numbers despite the lack of connection that you see from a typical QB1 and WR1.
“I mean, it’s tough, tough situations to be in, but you can’t really get mad at the situation or get mad at what’s right there in front of you,” Jefferson said. “You just got to work with what you got and make the most of it, and I feel like I have done that.
“We just got to get over that hump of winning and, of course, winning in the playoffs as well. So it’s definitely tough, but I put it on myself and critique myself into getting better every single year and perfecting my craft at an ultimate level.”
Vikings’ Justin Jefferson Earns Praise
Recently, former Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald applauded for what Jefferson has been able to do with the Vikings despite the rotating cast of quarterbacks since entering the league in 2020.
“I think Justin Jefferson, to me, what he’s been able to do, and I think Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson are like neck and neck, right?” Fitzgerald said on a recent appearance on “The Rich Eisen Show.”
“But Ja’Marr has had the luxury of having somebody who’s in the conversation of MVP, quality player at quarterback, and Joe Burrow his entire career. Justin has done it with Sam Darnold. He’s done it with J.J. McCarthy. He’s done it with Kirk Cousins. He’s done it with a lot of different players, and his numbers never change.”
“I think that’s truly a testament to being the best player on the field. Everybody’s keying on you. Every defense, every coordinator, everybody’s aware of where you are. You’re still able to go out there and make play after play after play. And getting to know him, he lives in Minnesota. I’m a Minnesota guy. He’s so humble; he’s down to earth. He’s engaging. He just stands for all the right things.”
Vikings to Stick With Carson Wentz as QB1 for Week 8
It’s a quick turnaround for Minnesota after its Week 7 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. The Vikings kick off Week 8 on Thursday Night Football as they face off against the Los Angeles Chargers. Moreover, Jefferson will continue catching passes from Wentz, who will be the starter rather than McCarthy.
“My mindset is to go win this game,” Wentz said on October 21 (h/t Kevin Seifert of ESPN). “And focus on the here and now. I don’t have a lot of time or energy to think beyond this one, quite frankly. So let the future take care of itself, but the mindset is to go 1-0 this week and find a way to get mentally and physically as ready as I can on a short week.”
