Former Broncos, NFL assistant Mike Westhoff shares reassuring message after stepping down due to health scare

Former longtime NFL assistant coach Mike Westhoff wanted to reassure the public that he was ultimately OK despite stepping down from his role on the Denver Broncos staff, sharing a brief message on Wednesday. The news of his departure broke on Tuesday evening.

In a short message on social media, Westhoff shared his appreciation for the well wishes. And the 76-year-old added that he took the whole episode as a warning, and one that he plans to heed.

“I want to thank everyone for the well wishes,” Westhoff said. “I want to assure you I’m ok, my body gave me a warning this week and I had to listen and put my health first. #BroncosCountry is amazing..thank you!”

Westhoff had vision problems last week and underwent testing, including an MRI, on Monday, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. After that battery of examinations and conversations with head coach Sean Payton, Westhoff, who is 76 years old, made the decision to return to his home in Florida.

“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, according to Pelissero. “This team is very much headed in the right direction with a strong foundation and a winning culture. I’m grateful to Sean for giving me the opportunity to contribute to a first-class organization and wish the Broncos the very best.”

Through 10 games of the 2024 season, the Broncos are 5-5 and firmly in wildcard contention.

Westhoff began his coaching career at the collegiate level in the early 1970s and eventually made it to the professional levels in the early 1980s, joining the Indianapolis Colts staff in 1982. From then, he would coach at the pro level for three decades until a run with the New York Jets ended in 2012.

He did a brief stint with the New Orleans Saints years later before his most recent tenure in Denver to work under Payton again.