Earlier this week it was announced that Mike Westhoff is the assistant head coach of the Denver Broncos Withdrawal for health reasons.
After practice on Wednesday, Broncos head coach Sean Payton began his press conference by addressing Westhoff's resignation.
“I want to start real quick and I know there has already been a release regarding Mike Westhoff,” Payton said. “He and I have been together for a while. I think in the last two and a half weeks one of his eyes started to blur. Of course he didn't say anything at first, he's a tough jerk. The [has] made him increasingly worried. After the game he underwent a few scans and received quite a bit of medical attention. He and his medical team felt it was in his best interest to resign. Obviously there is a level of stress that can take its toll, especially at his age with the condition.
“I know he has received the treatment he needs and he will continue to monitor that. I would say that – because I didn't know him – I always knew about him and we hired him in the middle of the season in New Orleans. It's not often that assistant coaches join the team [Pro Football] Hall of Fame. I'm not – I'm just saying if he is, he's one of the best special teams coordinators. If you look at our numbers in two years in relation to our development so far, he has certainly done an excellent job here. We will miss him. Of course we stay in touch.”
Payton convinced Westhoff to come out of retirement in 2023 to help oversee Denver's special operations forces. The Broncos also hired special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica and assistant Chris Banjo. The plan was for Westhoff to help out for a season and then take over Kotwica completely in 2024. However, after last season went so well, Payton urged owner Greg Penner to ask Westhoff to come back for another season.
“[A]After last season, I actually went to Greg and said, 'Hey, why don't you meet with him and see if you can convince him to come back?' “He doesn't have to come back until training camp,” Payton remembers. “So Greg is a good salesman and it worked out well.”
Westhoff will now retire again to concentrate on his health. It's unlikely Payton will make him quit a fourth time, so the Broncos will thank the coach for his service and move forward with Kotwica and Banjo.