An assistant coach from the Denver Broncos is facing serious legal troubles due to a confrontation at the Denver International Airport. Michael Wilhoite, who coaches the team’s outside linebackers, has been charged with felony assault for allegedly striking a police officer.
Wilhoite was arrested on the suspicion of committing second-degree assault against a police officer and detained at the Denver jail last Sunday. A hearing held on Monday saw a judge setting his bond at $5,000. In response to the incident, the Broncos released a statement acknowledging awareness of Wilhoite’s predicament and explaining that they are in the process of gathering further details.
The incident began when Wilhoite parked his car unattended in a drop-off lane at the airport. As described in a police affidavit, a uniformed officer approached Wilhoite upon his return and pointed out that he couldn’t leave his vehicle there unattended. The situation escalated when Wilhoite reportedly told the officer to “shut up” and physically bumped into him. The officer then responded by pushing Wilhoite back, after which Wilhoite allegedly punched the officer, causing him to fall. As Wilhoite attempted to drive away in his vehicle, the officer used a Taser to subdue him, leading to his arrest.
Magistrate Arnie Beckman, who presided over the bond hearing, commented on the situation, expressing concern that a normal interaction escalated to violence, a situation that should typically be handled without conflict. “These are routine, everyday interactions that thousands of people get through successfully at the airport without assaulting a police officer,” Beckman remarked.
Efforts to obtain a statement from Wilhoite’s attorney have been made but were not immediately successful. Wilhoite, who is 38, joined the Broncos’ coaching team this year, following a stint working for head coach Sean Payton with the New Orleans Saints as a defensive and special teams assistant during 2019-20. He then served as the Los Angeles Chargers’ linebackers coach for two seasons, from 2021 to 2022.
The Broncos are currently riding high after setting a franchise record for the highest number of sacks in a season with 63, ending an eight-year playoff absence. Before transitioning to coaching, Wilhoite had a notable career as a linebacker in the NFL, where he played for the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks over six seasons.
