Mustangs and assistant Michael Wilhoite are accused of assaulting police officers
Englewood, Colo. (AP) – Accused of assaulting a police officer in the face, putting former NFL player Michael Wilhoite as an outside guard coach for the Denver Broncos.
“After having a thorough discussion as an organization, I met with Michael Wilhoite and informed him that we have decided to split up the line assistant,” coach Sean Payton said in a statement released Wednesday.
“We recognize the serious nature of the allegations against him and consider it the best course of action right now,” Payton added. “I thank Michael for his contribution to the Broncos and have the confidence that he will move in a positive direction.”
Wilhoite plans to return to court on March 10 and recommends prosecutors plan to file a lawsuit against him.
On February 23, he was arrested on suspicion of a second-degree assault and spent the night in Denver prison. According to a police affidavit, Willhoyt pulled into the exit lane at Denver International Airport that day and no one cared for his vehicle. A policeman in uniform returns and tells him he can’t do that.
According to the police affidavit, Willhoyt told the officer to shut up and hit the officer in the chest, who pushed Willhoyt back. Wilhoite then slammed the officer in the face, knocked him down, and returned to the truck. The officer used a Taser on Wilhoite as he entered the vehicle and drove away.
On the next day, he set a $5,000 margin hearing, Magistrate Arnie Beckman told Wilhoite: “These are daily interactions where thousands of people succeed at the airport without beating police officers. Every day, every day, every day, becomes violent violence.”
Wilhoite, 38, joined the Broncos’ coaching staff in 2023, and previously served as a defensive and special team assistant in 2019-20 at Payton, New Orleans. He has been the guard coach of Los Angeles Chargers since 2021-22. Before coaching, Wilhoite spent six seasons in the NFL, serving as a guard for the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks.
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