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The Denver Broncos have officially terminated their contract with linebackers coach Michael Wilhoite following his recent arrest at an airport. This decision was announced on Wednesday after thorough discussions within the organization.
Head coach Sean Payton addressed the situation in a statement, acknowledging the severity of the allegations that led to this dismissal.
Payton stated, “After thorough discussions as an organization, I met with Michael Wilhoite and informed him we have decided to part ways. 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 was arrested on February 23 on a charge of second-degree assault against a peace officer, as indicated by jail records.
Reports indicate that Wilhoite had left his vehicle unattended at the airport. An officer approached him to inform him about airport regulations, at which point Wilhoite allegedly responded with disrespect.
According to the probable cause statement, he explicitly told the officer to “shut up” when asked to return to his vehicle.
After being approached again about his unattended car, Wilhoite allegedly approached the officer in an aggressive manner, bumping his chest into the officer and causing him to step back. This confrontation escalated when Wilhoite reportedly punched the officer in the face, resulting in further intervention.
Following the altercation, Wilhoite was subsequently pushed away by the officer. His next court appearance is scheduled for March 10, where he will face the charges against him.
Michael Wilhoite began his NFL journey as an undrafted free agent out of Washburn University. He made his initial debut with the San Francisco 49ers in 2012 and remained with them until the end of the 2016 season.
In 2017, Wilhoite joined the Seattle Seahawks for a brief stint, playing only one season before shifting his focus to coaching.
In 2019, he began his coaching career with the New Orleans Saints, serving as a special teams assistant under Sean Payton. Following his time with the Saints, Wilhoite became the linebackers coach for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2021 but was released from that position after the 2022 season.
This year, Wilhoite rejoined Payton, this time as the linebackers coach with the Denver Broncos.
Under Payton’s guidance, the Broncos displayed significant improvement during the 2024 season. They transformed from one of the worst defenses in the league to becoming one of the premier defensive units, ranking third in points allowed and seventh in yards allowed.
Their performance earned them a spot in the playoffs, although their season came to an end with a loss to the Buffalo Bills in the wild card round.
In summary, the Broncos’ recent move to part ways with Wilhoite reflects their commitment to maintaining a disciplined and professional coaching staff. The organization is now tasked with finding a new linebackers coach who can continue to build on the team’s defensive success. Moving forward, the Broncos aim to restore their reputation and improve their performance on the field.
