The Denver Broncos have decided to part ways with assistant coach Michael Wilhoite after his arrest last week at Denver International Airport.
Wilhoite, a former NFL player, was accused of cursing at and striking a police officer during the incident.
Head coach Sean Payton addressed the decision in a statement, expressing the gravity of the situation.
“After thorough discussions as an organization, I met with Michael Wilhoite and informed him we have decided to part ways,” Payton said.
“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.”
Details of the Incident at Denver International Airport
According to court records obtained by the Denver Post, Wilhoite is facing a felony assault charge related to the altercation at Denver International Airport on Sunday.
The police report details that Wilhoite had driven his vehicle into the airport’s drop-off lane and left it unattended.
When a uniformed officer approached him to inform him that he could not leave his car, Wilhoite allegedly responded by telling the officer to “shut the [expletive] up” twice before “bumping his chest” into the officer.
The confrontation escalated when the officer pushed Wilhoite back, prompting the former NFL player to punch the officer in the face.
After the officer fell to the ground, Wilhoite returned to his car, and the officer fired his Taser, hitting Wilhoite near his left hip. Wilhoite then drove away from the scene.
The officer reportedly sustained visible injuries to his knees and jaw, according to the affidavit.
Wilhoite was later arrested, with his bond set at $5,000. His attorney expects him to be released from jail by Monday.
Broncos’ Statement on Wilhoite’s Arrest
In response to the incident, the Broncos issued an initial statement, acknowledging the situation and expressing their intent to gather more information.
“We are aware of a situation involving Michael Wilhoite that occurred Sunday and are in the process of gathering more information,” the team said.
Wilhoite’s time with the Broncos came after a successful NFL career.
He played six seasons in the NFL, beginning as an undrafted free agent out of Washburn University.
Wilhoite was part of the San Francisco 49ers’ Super Bowl XLVII team, where they lost to the Baltimore Ravens.
After his playing career, which ended in 2017, he moved into coaching and had stints with the New Orleans Saints, Los Angeles Chargers, and, most recently, the Denver Broncos.
Wilhoite’s NFL Career and Coaching Journey
Wilhoite’s NFL journey began with the San Francisco 49ers after a season with the Omaha Nighthawks in the United Football League.
Over six seasons in the NFL, Wilhoite accumulated 298 combined tackles, four interceptions, and one fumble recovery in 79 games.
Following his playing career, Wilhoite joined the New Orleans Saints as a special teams assistant in 2019 and became a defensive assistant the following year.
He was later hired by the Los Angeles Chargers as a linebackers coach, where he played a role in developing players like Drue Tranquill.
After his departure from the Chargers in January 2023, the Denver Broncos hired Wilhoite to join Sean Payton’s coaching staff.
Wilhoite’s tenure with the Broncos, however, has come to an end following the serious legal charges against him.