Picking Denver over Kansas City, Russell Wilson shades Sean Payton during Sunday pregame: “You may like me”
Wilson picks the Broncos
During Sunday’s broadcast, Wilson announced he was backing Denver against Kansas City. He addressed Payton directly, saying, “You may like me, you may not,” before adding that he was picking the Broncos.
Wilson, a Super Bowl-winning quarterback, is in his first full season as a CBS analyst. His choice showed that his past with Payton did not prevent him from supporting Denver in the matchup.
A difficult Denver spell
Wilson joined the Broncos after a successful 10-year stretch in Seattle. He started 30 games over two seasons in Denver, with the team winning 11 and losing 19.
Denver released Wilson in 2023, despite having $85 million in dead money remaining on his contract. The separation did not end the public friction between Wilson and Payton.
Tensions continued in 2025
During the 2025 season, Payton’s Broncos visited the New York Giants. Wilson had recently been benched by New York in favor of rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart. Payton said the Giants had found a spark after changing quarterbacks and recalled telling owner John Mara he wished the switch had come after Denver’s game. Wilson responded on social media, criticizing Payton and referring to the Bountygate scandal that led to Payton’s 2012 suspension.
Key points
- Wilson picked Denver to beat the Kansas City Chiefs during a CBS pregame segment.
- He joked directly about his strained relationship with Broncos coach Sean Payton.
- Wilson went 11-19 as a Denver starter before the team released him in 2023.
- The public tension continued after Payton commented on the Giants’ quarterback change in 2025.