Jets to bring back Mike Westhoff as special teams coordinator BY RICH CIMINI DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER Saturday, August 23rd 2008, 6:22 PM With only 13 days remaining before the regular-season opener in Miami, Jets coach Eric Mangini is poised to make a significant change on his coaching staff. Former special teams coordinator Mike Westhoff, who retired after last season because of a health issue, is expected to return before the opener, the Daily News confirmed Saturday. A Jets spokesman declined to comment. The popular Westhoff, 60, one of the most respected coaches in his field, underwent major surgery in February. A cancer survivor, he received a titanium femur during a seven-hour operation in New York. Westhoff has undergone an intensive rehab program and is said to be healthy enough to coach. The story was first reported by Nationalfootballpost.com. Westhoff coached last season in considerable pain after re-cracking a bone graft in his leg. When he announced his retirement on the final day of the 2007 season, he said he had no choice but to have the surgery and step away from football. After a long search, the Jets hired Kevin O'Dea, most recently an assistant special teams coach for the Bears. Mangini isn't planning to fire O'Dea, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. O'Dea's new role is unclear; he will re-assigned and probably will work under Westhoff. Reached today, Westhoff declined to comment on a possible return to the Jets. But he did say he wants to coach again. "I'm very appreciative of the situation that I worked out with the New York Jets, which enabled me to put my career on hold and do something I had to do," he told the Daily News. "I had no choice. I would've been in big trouble" if he didn't have the surgery. "When I started this adventure in January, I was prepared to retire and never coach again," Westhoff added.
you know what, westhoff is one of the best sp coachers ever, we are using washington and miller together on kickoffs correct?
The best thing about this news is it means the surgery must have been a resounding success. It's great that we have the best ST coach in the business back too.
Now i can post in that "I hate Justin Miller" thread. Hope that foot injury tonight is nothing. Rather see Miller return kicks than Leon. So Leon can run more as our runningback.
Are you serious?? This is incredible! This has the makings of a dream season, if all the pieces come together.
Iunno dude. It seems to me like they're going back to their old ways and sticking with the same people doing the same shit.
