Denver Broncos outside linebacker coach Michael Wilhoite arrested, accused of punching police officer

The Denver Broncos outside linebacker coach Michael Wilhoite has been arrested and accused of punching a Denver police officer at Denver International Airport. Wilhoite was booked into the Downtown Detention Center for charges of second-degree assault on a peace officer. 

According to court documents provided by the Denver Police Department, Wilhoite was involved in an altercation with a Denver police officer who was in full police uniform and assigned to level 4 on the east arrivals at DIA on Sunday afternoon. 

The probable cause statement details the altercation that happened just after 2 p.m. Sunday. Wilhoite allegedly pulled into the departure area in his 2021 gray Ford Bronco in lane 2 and got out of the vehicle, leaving it unattended. That's when the officer approached the vehicle as Wilhoite returned to his vehicle and the officer told him that he could not leave his vehicle unattended. 

According to the statement, Wilhoite told the officer to "shut the f*** up" and the officer once again stated that he could not leave the vehicle unattended and again the officer said Wilhoite said "Shut the f*** up" and bumped the officer in the chest. The officer then shoved Wilhoite back away from him and said that Wilhoite "punched him in the right side of his face with a closed left fist" and the officer fell to the ground. 

The court document continued that while Wilhoite started to get inside his vehicle the officer deployed his Taser and struck Wilhoite in the upper left side and left hip areas. Wilhoite closed the driver-side door and drove away. 

The officer suffered injuries to both knees and his jaw. 

Wilhoite was scheduled for a court appearance at 10:30 a.m. Monday. The judge set a bond of $5,000.

The Denver Broncos released this statement to CBS News Colorado, "We are aware of a situation involving Michael Wilhoite that occurred Sunday and are in the process of gathering more information."

Wilhoite has been with the Broncos as an outside linebacker coach since February 2023. Before that he was a linebackers coach with the Los Angeles Chargers and a special teams assistant with the New Orleans Saints in 2019. 

Early in his career, Wilhoite played for Washburn University and then played for the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League in 2011. He went on to play for the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks.