Michael Wilhoite, the Denver Broncos’ linebackers coach and former NFL player, found himself in legal trouble over the weekend after allegedly assaulting a police officer at Denver International Airport, as reported by TMZ.
The 38-year-old coach was booked at the Downtown Detention Center on a second-degree assault charge against a peace officer, according to jail records. Wilhoite is scheduled to appear in court at 10:30 AM on Monday.
The Broncos organization issued a statement addressing the situation but offered little in terms of specifics.
“We are aware of a situation involving Michael Wilhoite that occurred Sunday and are in the process of gathering more information.”
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According to reports, the incident unfolded after Wilhoite dropped someone off at the airport. A Denver Police officer, stationed at the curbside area, noticed Wilhoite’s gray 2021 Ford Bronco parked unattended in the second lane of the departure zone.
The officer informed Wilhoite that leaving his vehicle unattended was not allowed. That’s when things reportedly escalated.
The probable cause statement reveals that Wilhoite responded to the officer’s warning by saying “Shut the f**kup!” After being reminded again of the parking rule, Wilhoite doubled down with the same explicit response. “Shut the f**kup!”
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Things then took a physical turn.
The coach allegedly walked toward the officer and bumped him with his chest, prompting the officer to step back. When the officer shoved Wilhoite in response, Wilhoite allegedly punched him, knocking the officer to the ground.
Police say Wilhoite attempted to leave the scene by getting into his car, at which point the officer deployed his taser. Despite the shock, Wilhoite managed to shut his car door and drive away. He was later taken into custody and booked at the detention center.
Wilhoite, who carved out a respectable career in the NFL despite going undrafted out of Washburn University, played six seasons as a linebacker. He spent most of his career with the San Francisco 49ers before wrapping up his playing days with the Seattle Seahawks in 2017.
Following his retirement, he transitioned to coaching, starting as a special teams assistant under Sean Payton with the New Orleans Saints in 2019. He then worked as a defensive assistant before becoming a linebackers coach for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2021.
He rejoined Payton’s staff with the Broncos in 2023.
Details surrounding the case remain limited, but given the nature of the allegations, this could be a significant headache for both Wilhoite and the Broncos. It remains to be seen how the team will handle the situation moving forward.
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