Denver Linebacker Cooper Faces Domestic Violence Charges After Arrest in Colorado
Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper and his girlfriend were both arrested Friday and held on suspicion of two counts of domestic violence and one count of criminal mischief, according to Douglas County jail records. Cooper, 28, attended a hearing at 9:45 a.m. that same day at a Douglas County courtroom and was subsequently released on a personal recognizance bond. A follow-up hearing is scheduled for Monday, at which Cooper is expected to enter a plea.
According to a probable cause affidavit cited by TMZ, the incident began when the woman, described as a long-term on-and-off partner, confronted Cooper at his residence over alleged infidelity. The woman threw Cooper's phone against a wall before attempting to search through it. The two then struggled for the device, which Cooper eventually retrieved. He demanded she leave the premises, threatening to break her phone if she refused. When she did not leave, he bit down on and broke the screen of her iPhone, according to the affidavit.
Cooper has spent his entire five-season NFL career with Denver since the Broncos selected him out of Ohio State in the seventh round of the NFL Draft. In 17 games last season, he recorded 50 tackles and eight sacks, establishing himself as a key contributor to Denver's defense. Over 81 career games, he has accumulated 266 tackles and 31.5 sacks. In November 2024, the Broncos signed him to a four-year, $60 million contract extension.
The Broncos and Cooper's agency had not responded to requests for comment at the time of publication. The Monday hearing will determine Cooper's formal plea, with the legal proceedings likely to draw scrutiny given his prominent role in Denver's defensive unit and the terms of his recently signed contract extension.
