Broncos Assistant HC Mike Westhoff Steps Down from Role amid Potential Health Issue

Denver Broncos assistant head coach Mike Westhoff, a revered special teams maven with 33 years of NFL coaching experience, has stepped down from his role to address a potential health issue.

Tom Pelissero of NFL Network relayed the news on the 76-year-old, "who reportedly experienced problems related to his vision last week and underwent testing Monday, including an MRI."

Pelissero added that Westhoff decided to go home to Florida after multiple consultations with doctors and "several positive conversations" with head coach Sean Payton, who brought him to Denver in 2023 when he was hired to lead the Broncos.

Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette added more insight.

"A source said Tuesday that Westhoff experienced some issues last week related to his vision and underwent testing Monday," Tomasson reported. "The source said Westhoff generally is "fine" by does not want to risk having potential future health problems."

Mike Klis of 9News reported that Westhoff's "eye symptoms returned during the plane ride home" following Denver's near-upset over the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs last Sunday.

"It's not easy to make this decision, but this was a wake-up call that I needed to put my health first," Westhoff said in a statement to NFL Network.

"This team is very much headed in the right direction with a strong foundation and a winning culture. I'm grateful to Sean for giving me the opportunity to contribute to a first-class organization and wish the Broncos the very best."

Westhoff is known as of the NFL's "best-ever special teams coordinators," per Klis. His lengthy resume includes a 15-year stint (1986-2000) with the Miami Dolphins as their tight ends and special teams coach.

He then left for the New York Jets, remaining there 12 years (2001-2012) as special teams coordinator. Per his biography on the Broncos website, the Jets scored an NFL-high 16 kickoff return touchdowns during his tenure with New York.

Payton coaxed him out of retirement in Nov. 2017 when he was New Orleans Saints head coach. Westhoff soon took control of the special teams units and remained in New Orleans through the 2018 campaign. Five years later, Payton hired him again, this time in Denver.

Westhoff worked closely with special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica, per Tomasson. Zac Stevens of DNVR Sports gave that unit much credit upon news of Westhoff stepping down.

Westhoff has coached football for 46 years, beginning in 1974 at Indiana as a graduate assistant under then-head coach (and longtime ESPN college football analyst) Lee Corso.