ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Denver Broncos have made the decision to part ways with Michael Wilhoite, their outside linebackers coach, after he was involved in an incident where he is accused of striking a police officer in the face.
Broncos head coach Sean Payton announced the decision, stating, “Following comprehensive discussions within our organization, I spoke with Michael Wilhoite and informed him of our decision to move on.” He noted the gravity of the allegations and stressed that terminating Wilhoite’s contract was the right move. Payton expressed gratitude for Wilhoite’s contributions and optimism about his future.
Wilhoite is due back in court on March 10 to hear the charges that may be filed against him by prosecutors. He was apprehended on February 23 under suspicion of second-degree assault on a police officer and was detained overnight at the Denver jail.
The events unfolded at Denver International Airport, where Wilhoite left his vehicle unattended in a drop-off lane. When he returned, a uniformed officer informed him that parking there was not allowed. The situation escalated as Wilhoite reportedly told the officer to be quiet, bumped into him, and subsequently hit the officer in the face, causing him to fall. As Wilhoite attempted to drive away, the officer deployed a Taser on him.
During a subsequent hearing, magistrate Arnie Beckman, who set a $5,000 bond, remarked, “These are routine, everyday interactions that thousands of people handle without incident at the airport. The fact that this everyday encounter turned violent is concerning to the court.”
Wilhoite, 38, brought his expertise to the Broncos’ coaching team in 2023 after his tenure with Payton in New Orleans as a defensive and special teams assistant from 2019 to 2020. Prior to coaching, he was with the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks during his six-year career as an NFL linebacker. From 2021 to 2022, he served as the Los Angeles Chargers’ linebackers coach.
