An assistant coach for the Denver Broncos has been arrested on charges of punching a police officer in the face at Denver International Airport, according to jail records.

The records said outside linebackers coach Michael Wilhoite, 38, was charged with second-degree assault on a police officer and booked Sunday into the Denver jail.

Police said the Broncos coach arrived at the vehicle’s drop-off lane and then left his car unattended.

An officer confronted Wilhoite about the improper parking once he returned to the vehicle, authorities said, and Wilhoite responded by telling the officer to shut up and bumping his chest into the officer.

Police said the officer shoved Wilhoite away after the chest bump, and the Broncos coach punched the officer in the face immediately afterward, knocking the officer to the ground.

The officer used a Taser on Wilhoite as he tried to drive away and placed him under arrest.  

“These are routine, everyday interactions that thousands of people get through successfully at the airport without assaulting a police officer,” Judge Arnie Beckman said Monday in court, according to the Denver Post. “That a routine, everyday encounter turned violent is concerning to the court.”

Judge Beckman set a $5,000 bond for Wilhoite at Monday’s hearing.

The Broncos said in a statement that they are “aware of a situation involving Michael Wilhoite that occurred Sunday and are in the process of gathering more information.”

Wilhoite joined the Broncos’ coaching staff in 2023 after previously working for head coach Sean Payton in New Orleans as a defensive and special teams assistant in 2019-20. He was the Los Angeles Chargers’ linebackers coach from 2021-22.

Before becoming a coach, Wilhoite spent six seasons in the NFL as a linebacker with the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks.

— This article is based in part on wire service reports.

• Matt Delaney can be reached at mdelaney@washingtontimes.com.