# Mike Westhoff
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{{Short description|American football coach (born 1948)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Mike Westhoff
| image =
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| position =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1948|1|10|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [Bethel Park, Pennsylvania](/source/Bethel_Park%2C_Pennsylvania), U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| high_school =
| college = [Wichita State](/source/Wichita_State_Shockers_football)
| pastcoaching =
* [Indiana](/source/Indiana_Hoosiers_football) (1974)
Graduate assistant
* Indiana (1975)
Freshman coach
* [Dayton](/source/Dayton_Flyers_football) (1976)
Offensive line coach
* [Indiana State](/source/Indiana_State_Sycamores_football) (1977)
Defensive line coach & linebackers coach
* [Northwestern](/source/Northwestern_Wildcats_football) (1978–1980)
Offensive line coach
* [Texas Christian](/source/TCU_Horned_Frogs_football) (1981)
Offensive line coach
* [Indianapolis Colts](/source/Indianapolis_Colts) ({{nfly|1982}}–{{nfly|1984}})
Offensive line, tight ends & special teams coach
* [Arizona Outlaws](/source/Arizona_Outlaws) (1985)
Offensive line coach
* [Miami Dolphins](/source/Miami_Dolphins) ({{nfly|1986}}–{{nfly|2000}})
Tight ends coach & special teams coach
* [New York Jets](/source/New_York_Jets) ({{nfly|2001}}–{{nfly|2012}})
Special teams coach
* [New Orleans Saints](/source/New_Orleans_Saints) ({{nfly|2017}}–{{nfly|2018}})
Special teams coach
* [Denver Broncos](/source/Denver_Broncos) ({{nfly|2023}}–{{nfly|2024}})
Assistant head coach
| highlights =
| pfrcoach =
}}
'''Mike Westhoff''' (born January 10, 1948) is an American former professional [football](/source/American_football) coach who spent a total of 33 seasons coaching in the [National Football League](/source/National_Football_League) (NFL).[{{Cite web |date=2024-11-13 |title=Broncos assistant coach Mike Westhoff stepping down to deal with health issues, per report |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/broncos-assistant-coach-mike-westhoff-stepping-down-to-deal-with-health-issues-per-report/ |access-date=2025-07-21 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}}] He primarily coached special teams for a number of teams, most notably for the [New York Jets](/source/New_York_Jets), [Miami Dolphins](/source/Miami_Dolphins), and [New Orleans Saints](/source/New_Orleans_Saints). In 2024, he stepped down from his position as assistant head coach for the [Denver Broncos](/source/Denver_Broncos) due to health reasons. Westhoff is considered to be among the greatest special teams coaches in league history.[{{Citation|title=Mike Westhoff re-ups Jets deal |url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/nfl/news/story?id=5446922 |publisher=ESPN |author=Cimini, Rich |date=August 9, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105213237/http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/news/story?id=5446922 |archive-date=November 5, 2012 |url-status=live |access-date=November 9, 2010 }}][Ryan, p. 133]
==Coaching career==
===Miami Dolphins===
Westhoff was the special teams and tight ends coach for the [Miami Dolphins](/source/Miami_Dolphins) from 1986 to 2000.
===New York Jets===
Westhoff joined the Jets staff in 2001.
He stepped down as the [special teams](/source/special_teams) [coach](/source/Coach_(sport)) for the [New York Jets](/source/New_York_Jets) in December 2007 after the final game.[{{cite news | url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/2007/12/31/2007-12-31_farewell_for_mike_westhoff.html | title=Farewell for Mike Westhoff | last=Youngmisuk | first=Ohm | date=December 31, 2007 | work=[New York Daily News](/source/New_York_Daily_News) | access-date=January 21, 2009}}] On September 1, 2008, it was announced Westhoff would return to the Jets' sideline for the 2008 season in an undefined role.
On August 8, 2010, Westhoff received a one-year contract extension.[{{cite web | url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/01/26/mike-westhoff-will-return-to-jets/ | title=Mike Westhoff will return to Jets | first=Gregg | last=Rosenthal | publisher=ProFootballTalk.com | date=January 26, 2012 | access-date=April 24, 2017}}] Westhoff officially retired after the 2012 season.
===New Orleans Saints===
On November 15, 2017, the New Orleans Saints had hired Westhoff to join their special teams coaching staff for the remainder of the [2017 season](/source/2017_New_Orleans_Saints_season).[{{cite web | url=https://247sports.com/nfl/new-orleans-saints/article/new-orleans-saints-hire-mike-westhoff-to-special-teams-coaching-position-110531548/ | title=Saints make a sudden coaching hire | website=[247Sports](/source/247Sports) | first=James | last=Parks | date=November 15, 2017}}] The next day, Saints head coach [Sean Payton](/source/Sean_Payton) said that Westhoff would be responsible for supervising all the special teams units.[{{cite web | first=Herbie | last=Teope | url=https://www.nola.com/sports/saints/article_4613a0ff-9434-5389-bb40-903cd8ee8273.html | title=Sean Payton on hiring of special teams guru Mike Westhoff: 'I felt like we needed help' | work=[The Times-Picayune](/source/The_Times-Picayune) | location=New Orleans | date=November 16, 2017}}]
Following the controversial loss in the [2018 NFC Championship game](/source/2018%E2%80%9319_NFL_playoffs) versus the [Los Angeles Rams](/source/2018_Los_Angeles_Rams_season), Westoff appeared on ''[Mike's On](/source/Mike's_On)'' radio show with [Mike Francesa](/source/Mike_Francesa) of [WFAN](/source/WFAN_(AM)). On the program, he declared the result of that game as "the toughest loss of his long career".[{{cite web | first=Dennis Jr. | last=Waszak | title=Mike Westhoff devastated by the missed call - says it was toughest loss of his long career | date=January 22, 2019 | website=Twitter | url=https://twitter.com/DWAZ73/status/1087808453953884160}}]
===Denver Broncos===
Westhoff was hired to be the assistant head coach of the [Denver Broncos](/source/Denver_Broncos) under new head coach, [Sean Payton](/source/Sean_Payton), on February 25, 2023.[{{cite web|url=https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/broncos-announce-series-of-coaching-hires|title=Broncos announce series of coaching hires|work=DenverBroncos.com|date=February 25, 2023|access-date=February 25, 2023|first=Aric|last=DiLalla}}]
On November 12, 2024, [Tom Pelissero](/source/Tom_Pelissero) of [NFL Network](/source/NFL_Network) reported Westhoff would step down from his position due to health problems related to his vision. Westhoff confirmed the report the next day, releasing a statement assuring fans that while he was okay, the incident was his body giving him a warning which he had to listen to. He concluded his message expressing gratitude for the outpouring of support from Broncos fans.[{{cite news|last=Gordon|first=Grant|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/broncos-asst-head-coach-mike-westhoff-stepping-down-to-deal-with-potential-health-issue|title=Broncos asst. head coach Mike Westhoff stepping down to deal with potential health issue|publisher=[National Football League](/source/National_Football_League)|date=November 12, 2024|access-date=January 13, 2025}}]
==Personal life==
In 1988, Westhoff was diagnosed with cancer of the [femur](/source/femur) in his left leg.[Ryan, p. 134] Originally, the condition was misdiagnosed and Westhoff was nearly fatally wounded after the doctor accidentally cut one of his arteries.[{{Citation|title=The Bounce Is Returning to Westhoff's Steps |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/09/sports/football/09westhoff.html |work=The New York Times |author=Bishop, Greg |date=March 9, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180106033519/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/09/sports/football/09westhoff.html |archive-date=January 6, 2018 |access-date=May 11, 2011 }}] A cracked bone graft in 2007, caused Westhoff to announce his departure from the Jets.[{{Citation|title=New York Jets special teams coach Mike Westhoff, a cancer survivor, enjoying Super ride of life |url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2010-01-22/sports/17944494_1_mike-westhoff-jets-training-facility-cancer-survivor |work=New York Daily News |author=Brennan, Sean |date=January 22, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509211557/http://articles.nydailynews.com/2010-01-22/sports/17944494_1_mike-westhoff-jets-training-facility-cancer-survivor |archive-date=May 9, 2012 |access-date=May 11, 2011 }}] In 2008, Westhoff entered the [Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center](/source/Memorial_Sloan-Kettering_Cancer_Center) to undergo a procedure to replace the missing femur with a titanium rod.[{{Citation|title=Jets assistant battled through cancer, leg ailments |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=jc-westhoffhealth101209 |publisher=Yahoo! Sports |author=Cole, Jason |date=October 12, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025214701/http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=jc-westhoffhealth101209 |archive-date=October 25, 2012 |access-date=May 11, 2011 }}]
Westhoff is a native of the [Pittsburgh](/source/Pittsburgh) suburb of [Bethel Park, Pennsylvania](/source/Bethel_Park%2C_Pennsylvania).[{{Citation|title=Bethel Park native raises cane as Jets assistant |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05011/440231.stm |publisher=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |author=Finder, Chuck |date=January 11, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522032022/http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05011/440231.stm |archive-date=May 22, 2011 |access-date=November 9, 2010 }}] Westhoff has a son, John.