Jets’ Mike Westhoff to Step Away As Special Teams Coach
After 35 years in the NFL, Mike Westhoff has decided to step aside as the team’s Special Teams coach due to complications from his femur replacement surgery a few years back.
Though he would not use the word retirement, the soon-to-be 60-year-old said he definitely will not be on the staff next season as he recovers from a complicated surgery to replace his left femur with a prosthetic. Westhoff beat cancer in that leg, but a bone graft in the area continues to fracture and doctors recommended replacing the bone.
First and foremost, we wish Westhoff a quick recovery from this problem, and hope that slowing down some will help in this regard. Westhoff you will remember was to stay in the booth this season, but the Week 1 Ellis Hobbs 108 yard kick return for TD soon stopped that.
After a terrible season, this news didn’t help. My hope is that the Jets have someone in mind to take over ST duties, hopefully it’s someone in house whom they have been grooming already in-house. My hope is that Westhoff will remain affiliated with the team in some capacity … hopefully as a consultant. But one would think they would have made the announcement already if that was the case.
Either way, we miss him already and know the players do too. We hope for a speedy recovery.
[A Jets Coach Who Is Able to Bend but Not Break] NY Times
[Westhoff says he won't be back with Jets] Newsday
Mangini mentioned in his press conference that he would “remain part of the family” and when the press asked him what that meant he said they were still working on that. Sounds like he may be some kind of consultant; which would be nice.
It cannot be understated how much Westhoff has brought to this team — a great, great coach (best in the league at his position, PERIOD). This hurts infinitely more than “sliding down” a few draft slots yesterday. I’d be hard-pressed to think of a win in the past 7 years that didn’t come without his impact, either through field position set up by a great kick or coverage, or a game-changing return.
Here’s hoping for the best — a quick recovery and a return to the sidelines in 2009, where once again, he’ll have the Jets special teams “eating white lightning and crapping green thunder!”
…and the hits just keep on coming…this one being the biggest of all ‘07…
jets KR position is much like the RB position in DEN. it’s just plug and play.
no coincidence we’ve had 2 pro bowl returners since chad morton left. (of course i’m counting LW this year, way better than cribbs). R in CT nailed this one, this could have major implications.
I agree, this really hurts. I wish him all the best in his recovery. He was one of the best ST coaches in the league if not the best.
2:33am on left coast…2008 is already off to a bad start with this news.