After the game, Payton raved about the rookie dynamo, but also seemed to offer a veiled shot at Wilson.
“You know, they found a little spark in that quarterback,” Payton said after Sunday’s game, referring to Dart. “I was talking to [Giants owner] John Mara not too long ago, and I said, “We were hoping this change would have happened long after our game.” “
Payton’s comments are an obvious compliment to Dart, but it could also be seen as a dig at Wilson, who indicated he would have preferred to play against the former Giants starter rather than the 2025 first baseman.
Wilson’s reaction seemed a bit out of place as he is usually reserved and careful with his words. When it comes to Payton, that may not be the case for the 36-year-old quarterback.
Payton and Wilson had an infamous arranged marriage in Denver that ended in a messy divorce. A year after Wilson was traded from the Seattle Seahawks to the Broncos and signed a massive extension, Payton was hired to replace Nathanial Hackett, who was fired after one season. The two were clearly not a good mix, and Wilson was ultimately benched for the final two games of the 2023 season before being released after the season.
Payton and the Broncos drafted Bo Nix in the first round in 2024, but Wilson spent one year with the Steelers before moving to the Giants, who now appear to have their QB future license in Dart.
Wilson struggled in Big Blue, posting an 0-3 record as a starter, completing 58.9% of his passes for 786 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions.
There is an expectation that he could emerge as a trade candidate before the Nov. 4 deadline. If nothing else, he shows potential suitors that he still has fire left in him.