Russell Wilson will not be getting any special treatment now that Sean Payton is taking over.
Payton had his first official press conference as the newly hired head coach of the Broncos on Monday. During one of the media scrums, he was asked if Wilson would be able to continue using his own personal quarterback coach Jake Heaps.
Payton expressed unfamiliarity with the situation. But the Super Bowl-winning coach didn’t agree with having a player have their own coach outside of the Broncos staff.
“It’s foreign to me,” Payton told Darren McKee of 104.3 The Fan. “That’s not going to take place here. I mean, I’m unfamiliar with it, but our staff will be here, our players will be here, and that’ll be it.”
Wilson didn’t show up to Denver in the 2022 blockbuster trade with the Seattle Seahawks as the force the front office and fans wanted. He completed the season with a 5-12 record — numbers that also were foreign to him. It blanketed into an overall terrible offensive performance and the Broncos’ sixth straight losing season.
Was Heaps to blame?
He’s a former teammate of Wilson’s with the Seahawks. Heaps was the nine-time Pro Bowler’s backup QB in 2016. He didn’t collect one NFL snap but had an honest collegiate career. He tallied 5,233 yards and 32 touchdowns across three schools (BYU, Kansas, and Miami).
Heaps also has just as much access as any other coach on Denver’s staff would.
One could argue it was a crowded coaching situation with Wilson or special treatment overall, which could create a tense environment in the locker room.
Payton’s old-school ways won’t allow it, however. He’s an offensive coach who’s tenacious and always likes to get the most out of his players, and admitted he’s excited to get started with the hard-working Wilson. He doesn’t need an extra cook in the kitchen to achieve that.
[Darren McKee]
About Jessica Kleinschmidt
Jess is a baseball fan with Reno, Nev. roots residing in the Bay Area. She is the host of "Short and to the Point" and is also a broadcaster with the Oakland A's Radio Network. She previously worked for MLB.com and NBC Sports Bay Area.