It wasn't a seamless divorce between the Pittsburgh Steelers and quarterback Russell Wilson. Although it was a short-lived relationship spanning only one season, there appears to be no major animosity between the two parties. That same statement cannot be said for his former employer, the Denver Broncos.
It got ugly during Wilson's departure from the Mile High City.
Denver's head coach, Sean Payton, has had a rough relationship with Wilson. During their time with the Broncos, many reports suggested the two did not see eye to eye, and recent media comments have brought those issues back into the spotlight. Wilson is normally a person who is willing to let things slide, but he felt the need to finally fight back against Payton's attacks.
"Classless… but not surprised…. Didn’t realize you’re still bounty hunting 15+ years later through the media," Wilson tweeted.
Mike Tomlin may be described in many ways, but his commitment to being a true players' coach is one of his greatest strengths. He consistently finds ways to connect with players across the league, which is likely why Wilson has few negative things to say about the Steelers. The 2024 season ended on a toxic note, but neither party has spoken negatively about the other.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers Quarterback Russell Wilson is tired of being the nice guy
Wilson's tweet was a reaction to recent post-game comments made by his former coach in Denver.
"They found a little spark with that quarterback," Payton said postgame about the Giants going from Dart to Wilson. "I was talking to (Giants owner) John Mara not too long ago, and I said, 'We were hoping that that change would've happened long after our game."
READ MORE: Former Steelers quarterback’s early-season nightmare threatens career
That's a difficult statement to see made public. Wilson has been taking countless shots from the Broncos' head coach for a while, and that sparked his rebuttal. No one should be angry with Wilson for sticking up for himself. Payton has shown he can sink to low levels against some of his former players. It's refreshing for the former Steelers signal caller to step out of character.
All of this stems from the quarterback's time in Denver.
After the Broncos brought the veteran gunslinger onto their team in a massive trade that included a monster contract, he didn't live up to expectations. He was with the Broncos for only two years, one of which was with Payton, but the experience ultimately fell short of expectations. Wilson was cut, which eventually led to him signing with Pittsburgh.
Things have gone from bad to worse for Wilson since leaving the Steelers. He joined the New York Giants in free agency, but he was benched after three starts. Their rookie quarterback, Jaxson Dart, has given the Giants a new lease on life this season. Dart might not be their savior, but he gives them a chance at winning each week, unlike what Wilson was producing.
Payton continues to bash Wilson from their relatively short time together. Their personalities didn't match, and it led to a bad breakup. The aging quarterback had an up-and-down season with the Steelers, but it wasn't as bad as his time in Denver. It looks like his career is coming to a quick stop following this year in New York, unless he finds a way to land a starting job next season.