Beloved former Jets coach quietly returns in new summer role

ESPN’s Rich Cimini reported this week that a familiar face will be making his way back to Florham Park this summer, not necessarily as a coach, but more as a mentor.

Legendary former Jets special teams coordinator Mike Westhoff is expected to spend time at training camp over the coming weeks assisting new special teams coordinator Chris Banjo as he prepares for his first full season in the role.

While Westhoff isn’t joining the staff in any official capacity, his presence is still notable. The 77-year-old is widely regarded as one of the greatest special teams minds in NFL history, having spent over a decade leading the Jets’ unit during some of the team’s most successful seasons in recent memory.

But make no mistake about it — this isn’t just a nostalgic reunion. Westhoff and Banjo have a longstanding relationship that dates back to their time together in New Orleans, when Banjo was still playing and Westhoff was overseeing special teams for Sean Payton’s Saints.

The two later reunited in Denver, where Banjo began his coaching career as an assistant special teams coordinator. Now, Banjo will once again have an opportunity to learn the ropes from one of the best to ever do it.

Mike Westhoff returning to the Jets in temporary summer role

Westhoff spent 12 seasons as the Jets’ special teams coordinator from 2001 to 2012, becoming one of the most respected voices in the organization and a key figure during the team’s back-to-back AFC Championship Game appearances under Rex Ryan.

After briefly retiring, Westhoff returned to coaching in 2017 with the New Orleans Saints in a move that was orchestrated by the aforementioned Sean Payton. Westhoff would cross paths with Banjo in both New Orleans and Denver, taking him under his wing as his mentor in the process.

Banjo has now been handed the keys to a Jets special teams unit previously led by the long-tenured Brant Boyer. He joins an inexperienced coaching staff led by first-time head coach Aaron Glenn and first-time offensive coordinator/play-caller Tanner Engstrand.

That's partially why Westhoff's presence, even if brief, is so valuable. Westhoff brings over five decades of coaching experience to the table. He can essentially serve as a blueprint of success and an invaluable resource, not just to Banjo, but to the other coaches and players in the locker room.

Westhoff's return to Florham Park may only be temporary, but his impact will be felt beyond the special teams room, and Jets fans surely welcome it.

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