Michael Wilhoite (born December 7, 1986) is an American football coach and former linebacker who is currently the outside linebackers coach for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Washburn University where he played six different positions, including linebacker and safety.[1] He was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League (UFL) in 2011.
 Wilhoite with the San Francisco 49ers in 2015 | |||||||||||||
| Denver Broncos | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Outside linebackers coach | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | December 7, 1986 Manhattan, Kansas, U.S. | ||||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 245 lb (111 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Highland Park (Topeka, Kansas) | ||||||||||||
| College: | Washburn (2005–2010) | ||||||||||||
| Undrafted: | 2011 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
| As a player: | |||||||||||||
| As a coach: | |||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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Early years
editPrior to playing in the NFL, Wilhoite's coaches would use him at other positions due to his athleticism, which also included quarterback in high school. He had played six different positions in total during his college career.
Professional career
editOmaha Nighthawks
editAfter going unselected in the 2011 NFL draft, Wilhoite signed with the Omaha Nighthawks and spent the entire 2011 UFL season with them.[2]
San Francisco 49ers
edit
On December 14, 2011, Wilhoite was signed to the practice squad of the San Francisco 49ers.[3][4]
He was waived for final roster cuts before the start of the 2012 season, but was signed back to the practice squad on September 1, 2012.[5] After being on the practice squad for twelve weeks in 2012, he was promoted to the active roster.[1][6] He finished with 11 tackles and made several key plays on special teams during the 49ers run to Super Bowl XLVII, where they fell 34–31 to the Baltimore Ravens.[7][8]
After the Super Bowl, he remained part of the 49ers active roster the next season.[9]
Set to be a restricted free agent, Wilhoite was offered a tender by the 49ers on March 12, 2014.[10] He signed his tender on April 21.[11]
On November 16, 2014, against the New York Giants, Wilhoite recorded his first career interception, which came off of Eli Manning.[12]
On March 8, 2016, Wilhoite signed a one-year contract extension with the 49ers.[13]
Seattle Seahawks
editOn March 24, 2017, Wilhoite signed with the Seattle Seahawks.[14]
Coaching career
editNew Orleans Saints
editWilhoite was hired by the New Orleans Saints as a special teams assistant in 2019.[15][16]
Los Angeles Chargers
editOn February 14, 2021, the Los Angeles Chargers hired Wilhoite as their linebackers coach.[17]
On January 19, 2023, Wilhoite was fired by the Chargers, despite developing success stories such as Kyzir White and Drue Tranquill.[18]
Denver Broncos
editOn February 23, 2023, the Denver Broncos hired Wilhoite as their outside linebackers coach.[19]
References
edit- ^ a b Branch, Eric (August 12, 2013). "Parents boost 49ers linebacker Michael Wilhoite". SFGate.com. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
- ^ UFL 2011 Season Rosters Announced
- ^ Corbitt, Ken (December 23, 2011). "WU's Wilhoite gets NFL shot with 49ers". CJOnline.com. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
- ^ Branch, Eric (December 14, 2011). "49ers sign LB Wilhoite to practice squad; release RB Johnson". SFGate.com. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
- ^ "49ers Sign 8 Players To Practice Squad". SanFrancisco.CBSLocal.com. September 1, 2012. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
- ^ 49ers promote LB Wilhoite from practice squad
- ^ "Michael Wilhoite Stats".
- ^ "Super Bowl XLVII - San Francisco 49ers vs. Baltimore Ravens - February 3rd, 2013". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
- ^ Price, Taylor (May 1, 2014). "Michael Wilhoite: 'My Goal Is to Be the Starter'". 49ers.com. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
- ^ Crabtree, Curtis (March 12, 2014). "49ers tender Demarcus Dobbs and Michael Wilhoite". NBCSports.com. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
- ^ Barrows, Matt (April 21, 2014). "Michael Wilhoite, a possible starter at linebacker, signs tender". SacBee.com. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
- ^ "San Francisco 49ers at New York Giants - November 16th, 2014". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
- ^ "49ers Tender One-year Contracts to LB Michael Wilhoite and OL Jordan Devey". 49ers.com. Archived from the original on March 9, 2016. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
- ^ Boyle, John (March 24, 2017). "Seahawks Sign Linebacker Michael Wilhoite". Seahawks.com. Archived from the original on June 12, 2017. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
- ^ "Saints' special teams coaching staff adds Michael Wilhoite". USA Today. March 3, 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
- ^ "Saints give Wilhoite opportunity to take 'next step' in NFL career". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
- ^ "Chargers announce Saints assistant Michael Wilhoite as linebackers coach". saintswire.usatoday.com. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
- ^ "Chargers fire linebackers coach Michael Wilhoite". chargerswire.usatoday.com. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
- ^ "Report: Broncos Hire Two Linebacker Coaches". si.com. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
External links
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