Giants DC Rips Players’ Effort, Labels Some Traitors

WHO:

Pro Football Network - Russell Wilson commented on head coach John Harbaugh’s handling of Cam Skattebo.

Newsweek - New York Giants defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson addressed his players.

NY Post - Giants defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson called out players he described as “traitors.”

WHAT:

Pro Football Network - Russell Wilson said Harbaugh was changing the Giants’ culture and supported benching his best players for the team’s good.

Pro Football Network - The Giants lost to the Saints, 34–27.

Newsweek - Wilson warned players about “unacceptable” behavior and called some of them “traitors.”

NY Post - Wilson criticized players for a lack of effort against the Saints.

NY Post - The headline characterized Wilson as calling out “traitors”; the article description said he sounded close to benching a player or players.

WHERE:

Newsweek - The team involved was the New York Giants.

NY Post - The effort Wilson criticized was in a game against the Saints.

WHEN:

Pro Football Network - The game was the Giants’ Week 6 loss.

WHY:

NY Post - Wilson’s criticism was linked to what he viewed as a lack of effort against the Saints.

(UPDATED October 23, 2026 00:08 UTC)

The New York Giants lost to the Saints, 34 to 27, in their Week 6 game, and the defeat brought sharp criticism from defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson. Addressing his players, Wilson warned that certain behavior was unacceptable and called some players “traitors.” He also criticized what he saw as a lack of effort against the Saints. Wilson’s remarks suggested he was close to benching one or more players, though no specific benching was confirmed. Russell Wilson, commenting on head coach John Harbaugh’s approach to Cam Skattebo, said Harbaugh was changing the Giants’ culture. He backed Harbaugh’s willingness to bench even his best players if he believed it would benefit the team. The comments came amid scrutiny of the Giants’ performance and the effort shown in their loss.

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(UPDATED October 22, 2026 23:08 UTC)

The New York Giants lost to the Saints, 34 to 27, in their Week 6 game. After the defeat, defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson sharply criticized his players, saying he saw a lack of effort on the field. Wilson also warned the team about what he called “unacceptable” behavior and described some players as “traitors.” His remarks suggested deep frustration with how the Giants performed against New Orleans. Wilson’s comments were directed at players he believed had not met the team’s expectations. He also appeared close to benching one or more players, underscoring the seriousness of his response. The loss and Wilson’s pointed criticism have put the spotlight on the Giants’ effort and accountability following the game.

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(UPDATED October 22, 2026 21:10 UTC)

New York Giants defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson sharply criticized his players, warning that some behavior was “unacceptable” and describing some players as “traitors.” His remarks followed the Giants’ game against the Saints, where Wilson said he saw a lack of effort. He addressed the team directly, making clear that he was unhappy with what he had watched on the field. Wilson’s comments also suggested that a player, or several players, could be close to being benched. He did not simply question the result; his focus was on the effort he believed the team showed. The criticism put the Giants’ defensive players on notice that Wilson expects a stronger commitment. His message was blunt: he regarded the performance against the Saints as falling short of what the team should accept.