The Denver Broncos have fired one of their assistant coaches after he was accused of punching a police officer in the face.
Michael Wilhoite, who played for the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks before moving into coaching, was involved in a confrontation with a police officer at Denver International Airport in February.
“After thorough discussions as an organization, I met with Michael Wilhoite and informed him we have decided to part ways,” Broncos head coach Sean Payton said in a statement released by the team on Wednesday.
“We recognize the serious nature of the allegations against him and believe this is the best course of action at this time. I appreciate Michael’s contributions to the Broncos and am confident he will move forward in a positive direction.”
Wilhoite is scheduled to appear in court on 10 March to be advised of the charges prosecutors plan to file against him.
The 38-year-old was arrested on 23 February on suspicion of second-degree assault on a police officer and spent the night at a Denver jail. According to a police affidavit, Wilhoite left his vehicle unattended in the drop-off lane of the Denver airport. A uniformed police officer approached Wilhoite when he returned and told him to move his car.
According to the affidavit, Wilhoite told the officer to shut up and bumped his chest into the officer, who shoved Wilhoite back. Wilhoite then allegedly punched the officer in the face, knocking him down and returned to his truck. The officer used a Taser on Wilhoite as he entered his vehicle to drive away.
At a hearing the day after the alleged assault, magistrate Arnie Beckman told Wilhoite, “These are routine, everyday interactions that thousands of people get through successfully at the airport without assaulting a police officer. That a routine, everyday encounter turned violent is concerning to the court.”
Wilhoite joined the Broncos’ staff in 2023 as outside linebackers coach after previously working for Payton in New Orleans as a defensive and special teams assistant in 2019-20. He was the Los Angeles Chargers’ linebackers coach from 2021-22. Before going into coaching, Wilhoite spent six seasons in the NFL as a linebacker with the 49ers and Seahawks.
