Russell Wilson got a bit of a harsh reality check from Broncos head coach Sean Payton. 

In a very blunt comment to his starting quarterback, Payton told Willson that he needed to stop focusing so much on “Russell Inc.,” according to ESPN.

Wilson has often been criticized for the amount of focus he has on his image away from the field. 

“Will you f—ing stop kissing all the babies? You’re not running for public office,” Payton said to Wilson. 

It’s no secret that Wilson has had his eyes on a greater prize than just the one on the field. 

While many players have larger ambitions than just winning, it usually doesn’t become an issue if they’re successful.

But Wilson had the worst year of his career in 2022 during his first season in Denver. 

Wilson’s completion percentage (60.5%), passing touchdowns (16) and passer rating (84.4) were all career lows for the QB.

To make matters worse, Wilson was reportedly given a bit too much free reign in his first year in Denver. 

Wilson was allowed to bring in his own people separate from the Broncos coaching staff, according to a February report by The Athletic.

He also was given a workspace and office. 

Additionally, his off-the-field politicking, which has previously included going inside a suite with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, has drawn the ire of some.

Wilson’s agent, Mark Rodgers, recalled one particular meeting he had with Wilson in 2010 that was about a career outside of playing football, according to a 2020 interview ESPN. 

“It was extraordinary,” Rodgers said. “It wasn’t about football and baseball. It was about a legacy. It was about a foundation. It was about businesses. It was about owning a team someday, an NFL team. It was about building an empire.”

In one stinging criticism of Wilson, NFL Network’s Kyle Brandt called Wilson “one of the least authentic personalities we have in this league” during an episode of “Good Morning Football” last year. 

“You know I work the NFL Honors and [Travis] Kelce comes by, [Aaron] Rodgers comes by, Russell Wilson shows up with his sunglasses and his wife and I think they think that they’re Jay-Z and Beyonce,” Brandt said. 

“And they will literally put their hand up and say no we’re not talking. Why? Because you think you’re that cool, you’re that famous and everything is so perfect.

“That does not work in a locker room unless you’re really good or you’re a really, really good guy. It doesn’t work.”