Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper arrested for allegedly violating protection order

Jonathon Cooper, a 28-year-old linebacker who signed a four-year, $60 million contract extension with the Denver Broncos in 2024, was arrested Thursday night on misdemeanor charges of violating a protection order and harassment via repeated phone calls — his second arrest in eight days. His initial arrest occurred June 4 when Parker, Colorado police took both Cooper and his girlfriend into custody following a physical altercation that reportedly began when she confronted him over alleged infidelity and a dispute over his phone. Cooper pleaded not guilty to the original misdemeanor domestic violence charges on Monday, but on Wednesday a Douglas County court added a felony charge of second-degree assault by strangulation and a misdemeanor third-degree assault charge, which prompted the issuance of a protection order. According to an arrest affidavit, Cooper allegedly sent 20 messages and made two unanswered phone calls to his girlfriend Thursday before going to her apartment and knocking on her door, prompting her to call 911. Cooper attended the Broncos' offseason practice Thursday before his arrest, and head coach Sean Payton said he had a 'long visit' with Cooper about the situation; the team issued a statement saying it was 'disappointed' and continuing to review the matter.