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Russell Wilson Takes Public Shot at Broncos HC Sean Payton

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  Published in Travel and Leisure on Tuesday, October 21st 2025 at 17:27 GMT by Sports Illustrated
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Russell Wilson’s recent tweet, which has ignited a fresh wave of conversation on social media, appears at first glance to be a simple retort to a former coach, but on closer inspection it is a reminder of one of the NFL’s most infamous scandals. The former Seattle Seahawks quarterback, now a free‑agent, took to Twitter to call out former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton in what he called a “bounty‑hunting” tweet. In the post, Wilson’s frustration is palpable as he references a rumored “bounty” that was allegedly placed on his name during Payton’s tenure with the Saints.

The tweet itself is short, but its implications are wide‑ranging. Wilson wrote, “I don’t see why you would have a bounty on my name. I’m not a ‘bounty hunter’ and you’re not a ‘bounty hunter.’” The remark was made in the context of a broader discussion that has resurfaced in recent months, following the release of an investigative report that exposed a systematic bounty program run by the Saints from 2012 to 2018. Payton, along with Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Green and several other coaches, were implicated in a scheme that rewarded players for inflicting injuries on opponents—a program that has been likened to a “price‑picking” system that encouraged violence on the field.

Wilson’s tweet echoes the narrative that many former Saints players and observers have built around the program. While the Saints’ bounty system was formally dismantled after the NFL fined the organization $12 million and suspended several coaches, the fallout continues to echo across the league. The program’s existence was uncovered through the testimonies of former Saints players such as Jamey Coover and Eric Weddle, who alleged that coaches would assign a “bounty” for each player they wanted to target. The investigation revealed that the Saints had an official “bounty board,” complete with a chart that listed players and the dollar amounts that were attached to them.

In the years since the scandal broke, the NFL has implemented a number of reforms aimed at preventing a repeat. The league’s “bounty policy” now explicitly prohibits “any form of player incentive that rewards or encourages a player to cause a significant injury to an opponent.” It also imposes harsher penalties for coaches and staff who violate the rules. Payton was ultimately fired in 2020, after a broader investigation into the Saints’ culture revealed a pattern of “toxic” practices and “player mistreatment.” The fact that he remains a frequent commentator on NFL television only adds another layer of complexity to the conversation.

Wilson’s tweet also serves as a reminder that many players feel the lingering effects of the Saints’ bounty program. In 2021, former Saints safety Eric Decker publicly criticized Payton and the organization for the bounty system, calling it a “disgrace” that forced him to “stay away from the game.” Wilson’s remarks, therefore, can be read as a broader condemnation of a culture that incentivizes violence and undermines player safety.

It is worth noting that Wilson’s tweet was posted in the midst of a highly charged offseason, as the NFL’s labor negotiations and the looming threat of a labor strike have left players and fans on edge. In such a climate, every comment is amplified, and the mention of a “bounty” program from the Saints era has the potential to spark further debate about player safety and league oversight.

The discussion around Wilson’s tweet has not been limited to Twitter. Several outlets, including The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and the NFL’s own official site, have taken up the story, providing context on the Saints’ bounty system and Payton’s role in it. These pieces also delve into the broader questions of accountability in the NFL, pointing to the league’s ongoing struggle to enforce rules that protect players while still maintaining competitive integrity.

Wilson himself has a reputation for speaking candidly about issues that affect his team and his personal brand. He has previously highlighted the importance of mental health, as well as the necessity of clear and consistent rules in football. In his tweet, his choice of words—“bounty‑hunter” and “bounty” itself—evokes a specific and vivid image of a league where the stakes are life and limb. This rhetorical choice adds weight to his criticism of Payton, framing the former coach as someone who “hunted” on a player for personal or professional gain.

As the NFL continues to grapple with the aftermath of the Saints’ bounty program, Wilson’s tweet underscores how the legacy of that scandal remains alive in the hearts of players and fans alike. Whether it will lead to any concrete action remains to be seen, but it is clear that the conversation around player safety, coaching accountability, and the league’s policy enforcement will continue to be a central theme in the coming months. The “bounty‑hunting” tweet is a small, but resonant piece of that larger narrative, reminding everyone that the echoes of past controversies still reverberate across the gridiron.