The Denver Broncos dismissed assistant – coach Michael Wilhoite during his arrest last week at Denver International Airport, where the former NFL player was accused of curves – and striking – a police officer.
“After thorough discussions as an organization, I met Michael Wilhoite and I told him that we have decided to separate,” said head coach Sean Payton in a statement. 'We acknowledge the serious nature of the allegations against him and believe that this is currently the best way of acting.
“I appreciate Michael's contributions to the Broncos and am convinced that he will go in a positive direction.”
According to the Denver Post, court reports show that Wilhoite is confronted with a single indictment of crime abuse about the incident on Denver International Airport on Sunday.
The police claim that he drove the drop-off lane of the airport last month before he left his Ford Bronco, which he did not occupy.
According to a police statement, reported by the position, Wilhoite was approached by a uniformed officer who told him that he could not leave his vehicle without supervision.
The Denver Broncos have dismissed assistant coach Michael Wilhoite during his arrest last week
Denver Broncos -Coach Michael Wilhoite is said to have hit a police offer in the face
The Linebackers coach would then have told the officer for 'the [expletive] Up ' – twice – before' bumping his chest 'in the agent.
According to the sworn explanation, the officer pushed Wilhoite back, causing Wilhoite to hit him in the face. After the agent fell on the floor – and Wilhoite returned to his car – the police officer shot his taser.
It is said that he got Wilhoite near his left hip – shocking him for a short time before the former NFL star drove away.
The officer was left with 'visible injuries' on his knees and pain in his jaw, according to the statement – as quoted by the Denver Post.
Wilhoite was later arrested, with a bond at $ 5,000. According to the Denver Post, the coach's lawyer expects he will be out of prison on Monday.
The Broncos previously told 9 News Denver in a statement: “We are aware of a situation with Michael Wilhoite who took place on Sunday and collects more information.”
Wilhoite played six seasons in the NFL after he was an unknown free agent of Washburn University – a division II school in Kansas.
He had played a whole season with the Omaha Nighthawks from the former United Football League before he was signed with the practice team of the San Francisco 49ers.
Wilhoite played in special teams for the 49 people in Super Bowl XLVII – where they fell on the Baltimore Ravens.
The Linebackers coach would then have told the officer to 'close the (expletive) up'
He stayed on the active schedule until the 2016 season. Then he drew with the Seattle Seahawks and played his last NFL season in 2017.
Wilhoite ended his gaming career with 298 total combined tackles, four interceptions and one messy recovery in 79 games played in six seasons.
The New Orleans Saints hired him in 2019 as an assistant to special teams and became a defensive assistant in 2020.
After those two jobs, Wilhoite was hired as the Linebackers coach for the Los Angeles Chargers – where he developed players such as Drue Tranquill, among others.
The chargers fired him in January 2023 and about a month later the Denver Broncos hired him to join the staff of Sean Payton.
