Denver Broncos outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper, a former Ohio State standout, was arrested late Thursday night in Colorado on domestic violence and criminal mischief charges
The 28-year-old was booked into a Douglas County detention facility at 2:38 a.m. MT on Friday, June 5, after being arrested by the Parker Police Department around 11 p.m. According to Douglas County jail records, Cooper is being held on suspicion of two counts of domestic violence and one count of criminal mischief. Local news outlets have also reported that Cooper's girlfriend was arrested and held on similar charges.
Following news of the arrest, the Broncos released a brief statement Friday morning: "We are aware of the matter and are gathering more information."
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Cooper, who had been participating in the team's organized team activities (OTAs) earlier in the week, appeared before a judge on Friday morning and has another hearing scheduled for Monday.
The arrest marks a sudden and troubling off-field development for a player whose professional trajectory has been regarded as one of the NFL's premier success stories in recent seasons.
Cooper entered the league as a clear underdog, selected by the Broncos in the seventh round (No. 239 overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft. He spent his first two seasons primarily as a rotational reserve before taking over a full-time starting role. Since the start of the 2023 season, Cooper has started every regular-season game for Denver, emerging as a foundational piece of the team's defense.
His breakout campaign came in 2024, when he recorded a career-high 10.5 sacks. That dominant performance earned him a massive four-year, $60 million contract extension in November, tying him to the franchise through the 2028 season. He followed his breakout year with another stellar campaign in 2025, registering eight regular-season sacks, adding another sack in the playoffs, and earning AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors in October. He enters his sixth NFL season with 31.5 career sacks.
Before making his mark in the NFL, Cooper was a highly touted hometown hero in Columbus, Ohio. A native of nearby Gahanna, he arrived at Ohio State as a prized five-star recruit and the No. 5-ranked weakside defensive end in the 2016 recruiting class.
Cooper spent five years with the Buckeyes, developing into a consistent, reliable contributor on the defensive line. Over his collegiate career, he recorded 76 total tackles, 15 tackles for loss and 10 sacks, earning All-Big Ten and All-American honors in 2020. Recognizing his leadership, resilience and character on and off the field, the Scarlet and Gray coaching staff awarded him the program's prestigious "Block O" jersey during his senior season — a profound honor for a local product.
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As Cooper awaits his Monday hearing in Douglas County Court, his immediate status with the Broncos remains unclear. Both the team and the NFL are expected to closely monitor the legal proceedings as Denver's offseason program continues.