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Mike Westhoff hopes to find media niche after retirement

Posted by Curtis Crabtree on December 28, 2012, 1:15 AM EDT
Mike Westhoff AP

New York Jets special teams coach Mike Westhoff is retiring following Sunday’s season finale against the Buffalo Bills.

It marks the end of his 30 years coaching in the NFL where he’s been highly regarded as one of the most innovative special teams coaches in the league. Westhoff has spent the last 12 years with the Jets after three seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and 15 years with the Miami Dolphins.

According to Dennis Waszak Jr. of the Associated Press, Westhoff is hoping to move into the media world. Westhoff is hoping he can carve out a niche as a special teams analyst similar to how FOX uses former NFL VP of Officiating Mike Pereira during telecasts.

“I’d like to create a little bit of a niche somewhere with someone,” Westhoff said. “I don’t want to be the guy that talks about who should be the quarterback. We have enough of that.”

Westhoff became a more prominent figure nationally after the Jets appeared on HBO’s Hard Knocks series in 2011. His frequent and biting expletive-laden rants at players during practices were thoroughly entertaining.

Assistant Ben Kotwica will take over as special teams coach as Westhoff retires.

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7 Responses to “Mike Westhoff hopes to find media niche after retirement”
  1. lennydpocketqb says: Dec 28, 2012 1:29 AM

    Is this the guy who tripped a player durning a game?

  2. codyodea says: Dec 28, 2012 1:55 AM

    Nolan Carroll

  3. monropoobah says: Dec 28, 2012 3:58 AM

    i’ll bet westy was delegating a lot this year and that’s why the jets special teams sucked so much of the time.

  4. kappy32 says: Dec 28, 2012 6:09 AM

    I can’t stand the Jets, but there’s no question that Westhoff is a class act & great ST coach. A lot of people like to point to the Jets’ defenses of 2009 & 2010 as to why they made back to back AFC Championship Games, but if it weren’t for Westhoff & the Jets’ ST, they would have never made it. The Jets were constantly, week after week, especially in the playoffs, winning the field position battle. They were constantly starting from the right side of the opponent’s 35 while pinning the other team inside the Jets’ 15. He will be sorely missed for being the one winner on a team filled with a bunch of losers.

  5. Cereal says: Dec 28, 2012 7:56 AM

    A special teams coach,,,ugh, god I hope not. This is just another NY Jet mouth

  6. rajbais says: Dec 28, 2012 8:29 AM

    I see him going to Yes Network or move back to Miami and do WQAM … but do nothing with Channing Crowder!!!

  7. rcali says: Dec 28, 2012 11:02 AM

    Retired one year too late.

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