Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper arrested for allegedly violating protection order
Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper was arrested Thursday night for allegedly violating a protection order, his second arrest in seven days following a domestic violence incident on June 4. The second arrest also brought two additional charges — felony second-degree assault by strangulation and misdemeanor third-degree assault — on top of the original domestic violence charges to which he pleaded not guilty on Monday. The back-to-back arrests place Cooper's future with the Broncos in question and draw scrutiny to the NFL's handling of domestic violence cases.
Jonathon Cooper, a 28-year-old linebacker for the Denver Broncos, was arrested Thursday night on misdemeanor charges of violating a protection order and harassment via repeated telephone calls, one week after his initial arrest on June 4 in Parker, Colorado. The original incident stemmed from a physical confrontation with his girlfriend at his residence, during which she allegedly took his phone over concerns about infidelity, and Cooper reportedly bit and broke her iPhone screen before a struggle over the devices ensued; both were initially arrested on two counts of domestic violence and one count of criminal mischief. Following Thursday's second arrest, court records show two additional charges were filed against Cooper: felony second-degree assault by strangulation and misdemeanor third-degree assault. Cooper had attended the Broncos' offseason practice on Thursday before his arrest, and head coach Sean Payton acknowledged having a 'long visit' with him regarding the situation. The Broncos issued a statement saying they were 'disappointed' and continuing to review the matter. Cooper, a seventh-round pick out of Ohio State in the 2021 NFL Draft, signed a four-year contract extension with Denver in November 2024 and has recorded 31.5 career sacks across 81 games. He has a court hearing scheduled for Friday morning.
What's missing
It is not yet reported whether the NFL has initiated any formal disciplinary review or placed Cooper on the Commissioner's Exempt List, which is standard procedure in serious domestic violence cases. The legal status or charges, if any, against Cooper's girlfriend — who was also arrested on June 4 — are not addressed in any of the sources.
How coverage differed
Coverage across outlets was largely factual and consistent, though Breitbart cited Cooper's contract as $54 million while Fox News reported $60 million, reflecting a minor discrepancy in financial details. Fox News provided the most narrative detail about the original incident, drawing on the arrest affidavit via TMZ, while other outlets kept closer to official records.
What different sources said
- ESPNCenter
Jonathon Cooper arrested again, allegedly violated protection order
- Fox NewsRight
Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper arrested again after allegedly violating protection order from DV case
- New York PostRight
Broncos’ Jonathon Cooper arrested for second time in a week
- BreitbartFar Right
Broncos Linebacker Jonathon Cooper Arrested Twice in One Week
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