All criminal charges against former Denver Broncos outside linebackers coach Michael Wilhoite were dismissed Tuesday, his attorney said, closing out a legal fight that stretched for more than a year after an arrest at Denver International Airport.
Wilhoite was taken into custody in February 2025 following an altercation at the airport and was later fired by the Broncos. The case has now effectively vanished from public view, with key court records sealed and no clear explanation on the record for why prosecutors walked away.
According to 9News, Wilhoite’s two remaining misdemeanor counts were dismissed, and related filings have been sealed, attorney Harvey Steinberg told the outlet. The report notes that a felony count in the case had already been dismissed in September 2025, according to court documents.
How the case began
The criminal case stems from a Feb. 23, 2025, incident at the Denver International Airport drop-off area, where Wilhoite was accused of punching a Denver police officer, according to Denver7. Authorities initially booked him on a second-degree assault charge against a peace officer, along with misdemeanor counts of obstruction and criminal mischief.
Team response and fallout
The Broncos parted ways with Wilhoite in March 2025 following the arrest, a move that quickly made headlines. NBC Sports reported that head coach Sean Payton told Mike Klis of 9News the organization “recognize[d] the serious nature of the allegations” when informing Wilhoite of the decision. With that, Wilhoite was off the Broncos staff while prosecutors continued to evaluate the case.
Legal implications
Because the court has sealed filings tied to the dismissals, the public record does not spell out why prosecutors chose to drop the case. The usual paperwork that might reveal plea offers, evidentiary issues, or other weaknesses is not available.
As 9News notes, the earlier September 2025 dismissal of the felony charge, combined with the newly dismissed misdemeanors, leaves Wilhoite with no pending criminal counts related to the airport incident unless the case is later reopened or records are unsealed.
What’s next
With the criminal case now closed, Wilhoite has no known remaining criminal exposure from the Denver International Airport confrontation. What comes next for him is less clear. There has been no indication in the record of any immediate effort to publicly rebuild his reputation or pursue a return to coaching, and no new statements from prosecutors or team officials were available beyond earlier reporting.
