Broncos Assistant Coach Michael Wilhoite Arrested for Alleged Assault on Police Officer
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The Denver Broncos are dealing with a situation involving one of their assistant coaches, as Michael Wilhoite was arrested and booked in the Denver County Jail on suspicion of second-degree assault of a police officer. According to jail records, Wilhoite appeared in Denver County Court on Monday morning, where he was advised of his charges and had his bail set at $500 by Denver Magistrate Arnie Beckman. The incident occurred at Denver International Airport, where a police officer noticed Wilhoite leave his vehicle unattended in the departure area. When Wilhoite returned to his vehicle, the officer told him he could not leave his vehicle unattended, to which Wilhoite responded by telling the officer to "shut the (expletive) up."
The situation escalated when Wilhoite approached the officer and bumped his chest into the officer, causing the officer to step back. The officer then shoved Wilhoite back, and Wilhoite punched the officer, causing him to fall to the ground. The officer used his taser on Wilhoite, but Wilhoite was able to get into his car and drive away. Wilhoite was later arrested and booked into the Denver County Jail on Sunday. The Broncos have issued a statement saying they are aware of the situation and are in the process of gathering more information. Wilhoite, 38, is a former NFL player who joined the Broncos' staff as Sean Payton's outside linebackers coach prior to the 2023 season, bringing his coaching experience to the team.
Wilhoite played five years mostly as an inside linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers from 2012-16 and a sixth season for the Seattle Seahawks in 2017. He started 45 games in his final four seasons and registered 298 tackles and four interceptions in 79 games. Wilhoite began his coaching career under Payton in 2019 as a special teams assistant for the New Orleans Saints and was a defensive assistant there in 2020. He then became a linebackers coach for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2021-22 before rejoining Payton's staff in 2023, where he is responsible for the development of the team's outside linebackers.
The incident has raised concerns about the behavior of individuals in positions of authority, and the Broncos are likely to take the situation seriously. The team will need to gather all the facts and determine the best course of action, which may involve disciplinary measures or support for Wilhoite. The situation is a reminder that individuals in the public eye, including sports coaches and players, are held to a higher standard of behavior and are expected to conduct themselves in a professional and respectful manner at all times.
Here are the details of the incident and the charges against Wilhoite:
- Charge: Second-degree assault of a police officer
- Bail: $500
- Incident location: Denver International Airport
- Incident date: Sunday
- Wilhoite's position: Outside linebackers coach for the Denver Broncos
- Wilhoite's previous experience: Played for the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks, coached for the New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Chargers
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