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Jeff Legwold, ESPN Senior Writer
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Denver Broncos assistant head coach Mike Westhoff has resigned from the team because of health issues.
Westhoff, 76, had experienced problems with his vision beginning last Wednesday, team sources told ESPN on Tuesday night. Westhoff, who had returned from retirement to join Sean Payton’s staff last year, had undergone several tests, including a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exam and, after consulting with doctors in recent days, came to the decision to step away from coaching.
“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 prepared statement.
“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, a longtime special teams coach, had been on Payton’s New Orleans Saints staff in 2017 and 2018. He had not coached after the 2018 season until he was hired by Payton last year, shortly after the Broncos had hired Payton.
Westhoff worked daily with Broncos special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica and assistant special teams coach Chris Banjo, who was a Saints special teams standout when Westhoff was on the New Orleans staff. Westhoff and Kotwica worked together on the New York Jets‘ staff from 2009 to 2012 under coach Rex Ryan.
Westhoff is one of the most experienced special teams coaches in the league since he joined the Indianapolis Colts staff in 1982.
He spent 15 years as the Miami Dolphins special teams coach and 12 seasons as the Jets’ special teams coach.
Westhoff is a cancer survivor, having been treated, including multiple surgeries, for cancer in his femur.