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Russell Wilson and Sean Payton only spent one season in the NFL, but tension remained after a difficult year.
And it seems that the tension born from this tumultuous period continues to persist.
Wilson’s interview on the “Bussin’ With the Boys” podcast, recorded before last month’s Super Bowl between Seattle and New England, recently resurfaced.
In the interview, Wilson doubled down on his October comment calling Payton “classless,” saying he felt offended by his former coach’s remarks.
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Head coach Sean Payton of the Denver Broncos talks with quarterback Russell Wilson on the sideline during an NFL preseason football game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on August 11, 2023, in Glendale, Arizona. (Ryan Kang/Getty Images)
“[When] you’ve been on the same side or this and that, and I’ve gotten the same number of rings as you, which is Sean, right?’” said Wilson, who won a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks while Payton was coaching the New Orleans Saints.
“I have a lot of respect for him as a point guard, this and that, but shooting, I don’t like. I don’t think it’s necessary, you know, I mean, especially when I’m not even on your own team anymore. So, for me, there’s a time when you have to do it, I realized, I’ve been quiet for so long. There’s a time and a place where I’m not.
“I know who I am as a competitor, a warrior, a champion too and, you know, I beat Sean too. You know, like we’re in the same place and in the same thing. And so, it’s not about disrespect. Don’t disrespect me.”
Sean Payton and Russell Wilson of the Denver Broncos during a game against the Minnesota Vikings at Empower Field at Mile High on November 19, 2023, in Denver, Colorado. (Ryan Kang/Getty Images)
After a rough one-year stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024, Wilson joined the New York Giants last offseason. However, he was relegated to a substitute role after just three games.
Rookie Jaxson Dart quickly showed promise once he got a chance to start, but his season was briefly derailed by injury. Jameis Winston – not Wilson – replaced Dart in a handful of games. Dart threw three touchdowns in a Week 7 matchup with the Broncos, nearly pulling off an upset in what ultimately was a close loss.
After the game, Payton said Dart provided a “spark” to the Giants’ offense.
“I was talking to [Giants owner] John Mara not too long ago, and I said, ‘We were hoping this change would happen long after our match,'” Payton said.
Russell Wilson of the New York Giants attempts to escape a sack by Dallas Cowboys defensive end James Houston (53) in the first half of a game on September 14, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortés)
Payton also said the Broncos would have faced fewer challenges if Wilson had been under center.
“Classy…but not surprised,” Wilson responded in a social media post. “I didn’t realize you were still bounty hunting over 15 years later through the media.”
Despite the difficulties of last season and discussions about his footballing future, Wilson does not appear ready to call it quits in 2026.
“I definitely want to play for a few more years,” he said. “I think, for me, I always had a vision of getting to at least 40. I think the game is different. Quarterbacks, we get hit. It’s not, you know, we get hit hard, but… there’s certain rules. I mean, back when I started, bro, it was just you [clobbered].
“I mean, I feel like the game lets you, you know, live a little longer, I guess. I feel healthy. I feel good. But I think, more than anything else, do you love the game? Do you love studying? Do you love the passion for it all? Do you love the process? Do you love the practice? Do you love — everyone loves the winning part, but it’s the process. has a journey that you’re obsessed with. And that part I’m obsessed with.”
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