Denver Broncos outside linebackers coach Michael Wilhoite was arrested in Denver over the weekend on suspicion of second-degree assault of a police officer.
Emerging details don’t paint a very good picture of what supposedly went down in the latest edition of the National Felons League.
According to 9News Denver, the coach was still being held in jail as of this morning, awaiting a court date, after getting into a confrontation with a police officer about where he parked his Ford Bronco (haha) at Denver International Airport.
An officer allegedly told Wilhoite that he illegally left his vehicle unattended, only to be met with a less than cordial reply of “shut the (expletive) up.”
Twice, he said that.
According to the police report, Wilhoite bumped the officer, prompting a shove in return. At this point, cooler heads prevailed.
Just kidding, the Broncos LB coach allegedly punched the officer, knocking him to the ground.
Broncos Investigating Incident With Michael Wilhoite
The Denver Broncos issued a statement saying they were aware of an altercation between coach Michael Wilhoite and a Denver-area police officer and would be investigating the matter.
“We are aware of a situation involving Michael Wilhoite that occurred Sunday and are in the process of gathering more information,” a Broncos spokesperson said.
Broncos Coach Michael Wilhoite Arrested, Accused of Assaulting Police Officer | Click to read more 👇 https://t.co/pVaP664QVU
— TMZ (@TMZ) February 24, 2025
After knocking the officer to the ground, Wilhoite was reportedly tased. But after the effects wore off, he was able to close the door to his vehicle and drive away.
He was later detained. The officer, according to TMZ Sports, suffered injuries to his knees, jaws, and wrist.
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What’s Next For The Broncos Coach?
Wilhoite played six seasons in the NFL as a linebacker, spending five years with the San Francisco 49ers (2012-2016) and one with the Seattle Seahawks (2017). He racked up 298 tackles and four interceptions across 79 games.
After retiring, he transitioned into coaching, starting as a special teams assistant with the New Orleans Saints in 2019 under Sean Payton. He later served as a linebackers coach for the Los Angeles Chargers (2021-2022).
He joined Payton again in Denver, now working as the outside linebackers coach for the Broncos since 2023.
Given the seriousness of the charge—a felony—his future with the Broncos could hinge on the legal outcome and the team’s internal review.
Coach Payton, known for a “slow to hire, quick to fire” approach, has already parted ways with other staff this offseason, which might signal a swift decision if the allegations hold.