Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton yells at Russell Wilson during a loss to the New York Jets on Oct. 8th, 2023. Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton yells at Russell Wilson during a loss to the New York Jets on Oct. 8th, 2023.
NFLBy DJ Byrnes on

The relationship between Denver Broncos franchise quarterback Russell Wilson and head coach Sean Payton always had the aura of an arranged marriage.

The Broncos hired Payton to right the ship after a disastrous 5-12 season in 2022 that was Wilson’s first in Denver.

Payton immediately worked to change the culture in Denver, starting with banning Wilson’s entourage from having the unfettered access they previously enjoyed under Payton’s predecessor.

He also rather famously told Wilson to “quit kissing every baby,” and change his focus from “Russell LLC” to the team at hand.

Winning games has a way of smoothing team chemistry, but unfortunately for Broncos fans their team hasn’t seen much of that in Payton’s first year at the helm.

The Broncos fell to 1-4 on Sunday, losing to the New York Jets. To add to the sting of the loss, the Jets employ former Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett as offensive coordinator. Payton created headlines earlier this year when he labeled Hackett’s 2022 performance as “one of the worst” head coaching performances “in NFL history.”

CBS cameras caught Payton going berserk on Wilson late in the fourth quarter after Wilson lost a fumble to the Jets that all but cost them the game.

It would certainly seem like something will have to change in this relationship and fast if the Broncos are going to change the course of their season.

Nevertheless, the NFL world was quick to react to the fiery interaction between head coach and quarterback as their season slipped away:

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