Russell Wilson Cooks Hated Vikings Rival on Twitter
Strange bedfellows. Followers of the Minnesota Vikings found an unexpected connection with New York Giants backup quarterback Russell Wilson this week after the veteran signal-caller went on the defensive against Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton, a longtime Vikings foe.
Minnesota Vikings fans found a weird ally this week after Russell Wilson fired off a tweet. Folks saw the tweet and saw Wilson in a brand new light.
Wilson and Payton have an ongoing feud stemming from their work relationship in Denver two years ago, and Wilson decided to mention Payton’s Vikings-linked past this week.
Russell Wilson Turns BountyGate against Sean Payton
… and the crowd roared.
BountyGate Used by Russell Wilson to Cook Sean Payton
Wilson and Payton are not buddies, not after their messy divorce in the 2024 offseason. Wilson’s Giants and Payton’s Broncos played Sunday, with Denver prevailing in a stunning 4th Quarter comeback. After the contest, Payton decided to throw some shade at Wilson, which is pretty typical for Payton, a pot-stirrer.
Refusing to take the high road — like he usually does — Wilson tweeted, “Classless… but not surprised… Didn’t realize you’re still bounty hunting 15+ years later through the media. 😎😂 #LetsRide 🤣”
And just like that, Vikings fans took notice, as anything related to BountyGate is like moths to light.
BountyGate for Newcomers or Dummies
Tension between Sean Payton and the Vikings stretches back over a decade and a half. His New Orleans Saints ended Minnesota’s Super Bowl hopes in the infamous 2009 NFC Championship Game, denying the Vikings a chance to meet Peyton Manning’s Colts. That defeat became notorious when it surfaced that New Orleans operated a bounty program targeting Brett Favre — a scandal that led to Payton’s year-long suspension.
Saints players were paid to injure Favre, and they basically carried out their mission. Favre has said in the past that he was concussed so badly that he doesn’t remember the last portion of the game.
After BountyGate was exposed, and the NFL suspended Payton, purple fans never forgave the man. Ever.
What Payton Said
Payton took the miniature shot at Wilson, his former QB1, after the Broncos defeated the Giants.
“I have a ton of respect for that organization. I spent four of my early years there, coordinating the Super Bowl, the first game in this stadium, before 9-11. I’m close with the mayor Tisch family,” Payon set the table.
Then, he delivered the dart: “And, you know, they found a little spark with that quarterback. I was talking to John Mara not too long ago, and I said we were hoping that that change would have happened long, long after our game.”
It’s a Paytonian way of saying that Wilson isn’t very good, and his defense wanted to face an inferior quarterback.
Vikings Fans’ Longstanding Ire for Payton
Even after the BountyGate scandal was resolved through suspensions, Payton still found ways to agitate Vikings fans.
During the 2017 NFC Championship, Payton prematurely mocked fans at U.S. Bank Stadium with a Skol chant. At that specific moment, the taunt felt ruthless, and again, it seemed like vintage Payton classlessness — the same song and dance used toward Wilson this week.
Moments later, Minnesota orchestrated the Minneapolis Miracle, a touchdown reception by Stefon Diggs, upending Payton’s mocking ceremony and ruining his team’s then-lofty chances to reach or win the Super Bowl.
NFL.com on the Wilson-Payton Feud
Grant Gordon at NFL.com wrote about the tiff, “Payton’s comments are an obvious compliment to Dart, but could also be seen as a dig at Wilson, as he indicated he would’ve preferred playing against the Giants’ previous starter rather than the 2025 first-rounder.”
“Wilson’s reaction seemed a bit out of character as he’s normally reserved and cautious with his words. When it comes to Payton, perhaps that’s not the case for the 36-year-old quarterback. Payton and Wilson had an infamous prearranged marriage in Denver that ended with a messy divorce.”
Meanwhile, Denver has a 71.3% of reaching the postseason, according to DVOA.
Gordon added, “A year after Wilson was traded from the Seattle Seahawks to the Broncos and signed a massive extension, Payton was hired to replace Nathaniel Hackett, who was fired after one season. The two clearly weren’t a good mix, and Wilson was eventually benched for the last two games of the 2023 season before he was released in the offseason.”
“Payton and the Broncos drafted Bo Nix in the first round in 2024, while Wilson spent one year with the Steelers before moving to the Giants, who now appear to have their franchise QB of the future in Dart. Wilson struggled out of the gates with Big Blue, producing a 0-3 record as a starter, completing 58.9% of his passes for 786 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions.”
Wilson will be a free agent in March and may even enter the Vikings’ rumor mill at that time as a QB2 option.
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