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Denver Broncos outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper went viral this weekend after posting an expletive-laced message aimed at the Kansas City Chiefs on X.
The post (and a follow-up reply) used profanity and a derogatory insult directed at Kansas City, language we’re not going to repeat here. In screenshots circulating online, the original post showed significant engagement and views shortly after it went up, a reminder that anything a starting-caliber NFL player posts can become a headline fast.
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The timing also stood out because it came immediately after the Texans defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 20-16 on December 27, winning the Broncos the AFC West.
Broncos OLB Jonathon Cooper’s Chiefs Post Starts Spreading Fast
Cooper’s message appeared on his X account, which, despite not being verified, was quickly retweeted by many Broncos media members, signaling its authenticity. The obscenities were still visible on his profile at the time of publication.
The posts quickly jumped from the Broncos’ fan orbit into Chiefs circles and broader NFL social chatter, partly because of the blunt wording, and partly because Denver-Kansas City is the AFC West rivalry that never really cools off.
It also landed at a moment when Denver has real stakes again: the Broncos improved to 13-3 with that win, and the result helped position them as division champs. The Broncos are ascending toward a No. 1 seed in the AFC West, while the Chiefs are distinctly out of the playoffs.
What It Means for the Broncos Heading Into Week 18
From a football standpoint, Cooper’s post doesn’t change the standings, but it does create a small “pressure moment” for the Broncos internally. It also may draw extra scrutiny from the NFL.
Teams typically don’t love players creating off-field distractions with public comments, even if the message is just trash talk. Denver also has a Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers still on deck, with the exact date/time in the flexible-scheduling window.
If Cooper deletes the post, addresses it publicly, or if head coach Sean Payton gets asked about it, that becomes the next news peg. Until then, the cleanest read is that it’s rivalry emotion spilling onto social media after a high-leverage win.
Even if the Broncos treat it as harmless rivalry venting, the optics can linger because Kansas City is the team Denver is measured against in the AFC West. The locker room usually wants attention on the next opponent, not a social-media flare-up. That’s why screenshots matter here, posts can vanish, but the story doesn’t.
Key details:
Final: Broncos 20, Chiefs 13 (Christmas Day, Week 17).
Broncos record: 13-3.
Next game: Chargers at Broncos, Week 18 (TBD).
Cooper’s Role, Contract Context, and Why This Got Attention
Cooper isn’t a random depth player firing off a hot take. He’s been a major part of Denver’s edge rotation for years, with 48 career starts from 2021-24, per the team.
Denver also committed to him financially: the Broncos announced a four-year extension through 2028. That contract context matters because when a franchise is paying you like a core defender, your public-facing decisions get judged through a different lens.
On the field, Cooper has remained productive in 2025 (including being credited with eight sacks in ESPN’s 2025 stat line at the time of the listing).
Erik Anderson is an award-winning sports journalist covering the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. Anderson is also the host of The Rip City Pod on The I-5 Corridor, where he dives into the stories and personalities shaping the Portland Trail Blazers. His work has appeared in nationally-recognized outlets including The New York Times, Associated Press , USA Today, and ESPN. More about Erik Anderson
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