Late Thursday evening, Jonathon Cooper, a linebacker for the Denver Broncos, along with his girlfriend of several years, faced arrest on suspicion of committing misdemeanor domestic violence and misdemeanor criminal mischief, as reported by The Denver Post on Friday, which referenced both jail documents and the arrest statement.
By Friday’s afternoon hours, Cooper had formally received a Class 2 misdemeanor charge solely for criminal mischief, according to the same publication.
The affidavit, as detailed by The Post, stated that Cooper, a 28-year-old defensive player with five seasons under his belt with the Broncos, and his partner of approximately four years, became involved in a dispute where she accused him of infidelity. His girlfriend reportedly asserted that she had seized his mobile device, flung it across the living space, and then proceeded to recover it with the intent of examining its contents.
The Post, drawing from the affidavit, indicated that Cooper informed law enforcement officers that he grasped his girlfriend by her upper arms in a successful effort to regain possession of his mobile phone. The affidavit further described, as reported by The Post, that when his girlfriend again attempted to seize his phone, he “positioned his neck against her neck” to obstruct her access.
A report from The Athletic, also citing the affidavit, mentioned that Cooper communicated to his girlfriend that he would damage her device should she refuse to exit his residence. Subsequently, Cooper purportedly inflicted “crippling harm” to her smartphone by biting it.
“We have been informed of the situation and are currently collecting additional details,” declared the Broncos in a public announcement shared with various news organizations.
The professional football organization has likewise issued a statement regarding the incident.
Brian McCarthy, a spokesperson for the NFL, commented, “We recognize the issue and have communicated with the team,” according to The Athletic.
ESPN, referencing incarceration logs from Douglas County, Colorado, reported that Cooper’s apprehension occurred at 11:16 p.m. local time on Thursday. These same logs additionally indicated that Cooper’s official booking did not take place until 2:38 a.m. on Friday, and that he remained detained throughout Friday morning.
Cooper’s legal representative informed The Post that his client was ultimately allowed to leave custody without an upfront bail payment after securing a personal recognizance bond. Following a court appearance on Friday, Cooper is slated for another hearing on Monday to address the disposition of his case, as per The Post.
During 2024, Cooper finalized a contract extension spanning four years, purportedly valued at $60 million. The upcoming season would mark his sixth with the Broncos, who originally drafted him from Ohio State in the seventh round of the 2021 selection process.
For each of the last three seasons, Cooper commenced 17 games, accumulating a minimum of eight sacks in every one of those years. He contributed to a Broncos defensive unit that established a team record of 68 sacks during the previous season, surpassing any other NFL team’s total in 2025.
