Denver Broncos Linebackers Coach Michael Wilhoite Arrested for Assaulting Police Officer
Image credits: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
The Denver Broncos are dealing with an unexpected situation as their outside linebackers coach, Michael Wilhoite, was arrested over the weekend for second-degree assault of a police officer. According to reports, Wilhoite was taken into custody on Sunday and booked into the Denver downtown jail, with his first court appearance set for Monday morning. The incident occurred at the Denver International Airport, where Wilhoite had just dropped someone off before the alleged altercation took place.
According to a probable cause statement, a Denver Police officer working on a curb assignment at the airport told Wilhoite he could not leave his vehicle unattended in the second lane of the departure area. Wilhoite responded by telling the officer to "shut the (expletive) up," twice. The statement continues by saying that Wilhoite approached the officer, bumped his chest into the officer, which caused the officer to shove him back. Wilhoite then punched the officer in the face, causing the officer to fall to the ground. The officer used his taser on Wilhoite, but he was able to drive away after the effects of the taser wore off. The incident has raised concerns about Wilhoite's future with the team.
Wilhoite, 38, is a former NFL player who joined the Broncos' staff as Sean Payton's outside linebackers coach prior to the 2023 season. He played five years mostly as an inside linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers from 2012-16 and a sixth season for Seattle in 2017. He started 45 games in his final four seasons and appeared in 79 throughout his career. After his playing days, Wilhoite transitioned into coaching, landing a role with Sean Payton's New Orleans Saints in 2019 as a special teams assistant. He then became the Chargers' linebackers coach from 2021 through 2022 before joining the Broncos in 2023. The team is currently gathering more information about the arrest and the incident.
The Broncos have released a statement saying, "We are aware of a situation involving Michael Wilhoite that occurred Sunday and are in the process of gathering more information." The team's decision on Wilhoite's future will depend on the outcome of the investigation and the legal process. The incident has raised questions about the team's leadership and the potential consequences for Wilhoite. The Broncos had recently broken a 16-game losing streak to the Kansas City Chiefs and were looking to rebuild their reputation. However, this incident has put the team in an unexpected spotlight.
Here are the details of the incident and Wilhoite's career:
- Wilhoite was arrested on Sunday and booked into the Denver downtown jail
- He was charged with second-degree assault of a police officer
- The incident occurred at the Denver International Airport
- Wilhoite played five years mostly as an inside linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers from 2012-16
- He started 45 games in his final four seasons and appeared in 79 throughout his career
- Wilhoite joined the Broncos' staff as Sean Payton's outside linebackers coach prior to the 2023 season
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