Broncos’ Jonathon Cooper, LB’s girlfriend reportedly arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor domestic violence, criminal mischief
Both Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper and his long-term girlfriend were arrested late Thursday night on suspicion of misdemeanor domestic violence and misdemeanor criminal mischief, The Denver Post reported Friday, citing jail records and the arrest affidavit.
As of Friday afternoon, Cooper’s been officially charged with a Class 2 misdemeanor for criminal mischief only, according to The Post.
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Cooper, a 28-year-old defender who has played for the Broncos the past five seasons, and his girlfriend of around four years were entangled in an argument, in which she alleged that Cooper was cheating on her, the affidavit read, per The Post. Cooper’s girlfriend reportedly claims to have taken his phone, thrown it across the room and went to retrieve it so she could look through it.
As reported by The Post, via the affidavit, Cooper told the police that, in a successful attempt to get his phone back, he grabbed his girlfriend by her upper arms. When Cooper’s girlfriend went for his phone once more, he “braced his neck against her neck” to prevent her from getting it, according to the affidavit, The Post reported.
In The Athletic’s report, it stated, referencing the affidavit, that Cooper told his girlfriend he would break her phone if she didn’t leave his apartment. Cooper then reportedly caused “disabling damage” to her phone after biting it.
“We are aware of the matter and are gathering more information,” the Broncos said in a statement to multiple outlets.
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The league has also responded to the situation.
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said, “We are aware of the matter and have been in contact with the club,” per The Athletic.
Cooper was arrested at 11:16 p.m. local time Thursday, according to ESPN, which cited Douglas County jail records in Colorado. Those records also reportedly show that Cooper wasn’t booked until 2:38 a.m. Friday, and that he was still in custody on Friday morning.
Cooper’s attorney told The Post that Cooper was eventually permitted release without paying immediate bail after he obtained a personal recognizance bond. Having already made a court appearance Friday, Cooper’s scheduled to appear again Monday for a disposition hearing, per The Post.
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In 2024, Cooper signed a four-year contract extension reportedly worth $60 million. This season would be his sixth with the Broncos. They selected him out of Ohio State in the seventh round of the 2021 draft.
Cooper has started 17 games each of the past three campaigns and recorded at least eight sacks each season in that span. He was part of a Broncos defense that set a franchise record with 68 sacks last season, the most any team in the NFL logged in 2025.
