The Denver Broncos took first place in the AFC West on Sunday with a 28-24 comeback win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Linebacker Jonathon Cooper helped apply late pressure on the final snap, and he was not done speaking afterward. On Monday, he returned to social media with a message aimed at the Chiefs, one that looks back at a moment from last season.
Jonathon Cooper apologizes to Chiefs for last year’s posts
Cooper took to X on Monday and spoke directly to Kansas City. He also said sorry for what he wrote a season ago.
Cooper wrote publicly: “Man 😪 all do respect to the Chiefs they are a great team. With hall of famers. Players I’ve aspired to be like. I apologize for my tweets from last year if anyone cares in football matters.”
The apology goes back to late December 2025. Denver beat Kansas City 20-13 on Christmas Day, and two days later the Broncos clinched their first AFC West title since 2015 when the Chargers lost to the Texans.
https://t.co/RZScFpuLbQ
— Jonathon Cooper (@JonathonCooper7) November 2, 2026
Cooper then posted harsh, explicit messages aimed at the Chiefs, who had led the division since 2016. He was enjoying a strong year, with eight sacks and 49 tackles through 16 games.
2025 12 01T053424Z 1598126054 MT1USATODAY27714100 RTRMADP 3 NFL DENVER BRONCOS AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS scaled
Nov 30, 2025; Landover, Maryland, USA; Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper (0) runs off the field after the game against the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Sunday’s win gave him a fresh chance to revisit it. A false start on Kansas City tackle Jaylon Moore wiped out a go-ahead touchdown, and Malcolm Roach sacked Patrick Mahomes on the next play to end the game. The Chiefs are also bracing for NFL punishment after several incidents in that game.
Still, his road back to the field this fall was far from simple.
Cooper returns to Broncos after exempt list stint
Cooper was arrested twice in June on domestic violence related charges involving his former girlfriend. He now faces five charges, including a felony count of second-degree assault, and has pleaded not guilty. His trial is set for March.
The NFL placed him on the commissioner’s exempt list on Aug. 30, and he missed Denver’s first six games. The league removed him from the list on Oct. 16, and he returned in Week 7 at Arizona. Sunday marked his second game back, and he helped Denver close out the win.
On the field, Cooper has been one of Denver’s most productive pass rushers, totaling 31.5 sacks over 81 career games before this season. The league says it will keep monitoring the case, so he could still face discipline.
Denver (6-2) leads the AFC West by a half game over Kansas City (5-2). The Broncos visit the Panthers (3-4) on Nov. 8, while the Chiefs, who already made a roster move after the loss, host the Jets (2-6) next.
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