When Mike Westhoff received a call from Sean Payton to become the New Orleans Saints’ special teams coach in November 2017, former quarterback Drew Brees was the only player he knew on the roster.
But Payton needed help. Although the Saints were on a seven-game win streak, their special teams ranked 30th in punt return and 28th in kickoff return average, forcing Payton to ask Westhoff to come out of retirement and turn things around.
“I didn’t know anybody,” Westhoff said. “Sean thought (the Saints) were really good, but he was disappointed in their special teams and wanted me to come in.”
Six years later and enjoying retirement, Westhoff got a call from Payton again. This time, Payton wanted Westhoff to join him in Denver as an assistant head coach, teaming up with special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica and assistant special teams coach Chris Banjo to fix a unit that underperformed in 2022.
“I just (have) so much respect for (Payton),” said Westhoff, who has 32 seasons of NFL coaching experience.
In Denver, Westhoff is living up to his promise with Payton. When Payton stepped down as the Saints coach in 2021, he told Westhoff that if he returned to the sidelines, he wanted the former New York Jets and Miami Dolphins special teams coach to join him.
“I’m thinking ‘Man, are you serious?’” Westhoff recalled. “And then he called. I wouldn’t have done it for anyone else.”
For Westhoff, Denver feels like home. In addition to his relationship with Payton, he worked with Kotwica, who was an assistant special teams coach when they were in New York. Under Westhoff and Kotwica, the Jets recorded 10 combined kickoff and punt return touchdowns between 2007 and 2012.
Banjo, who retired in February, played for Payton and Westhoff as a safety for the Saints. He joined the Broncos’ coaching staff after playing 10 seasons in the NFL.
Westhoff has had fun reuniting with Kotwica and Banjo, noting their familiarity with each other already has them ahead of schedule.
“It’s been a great dynamic,” Kotwica said. “Everybody brings things that are different. It’s been a good discussion as far as making our unit better.”
With Payton at the helm, Denver is expected to compete for a playoff spot after six straight losing seasons. Kotwica thinks an efficient special teams will be the key to a turnaround.
“It’s evident on the film,” said Kotwica, who was the assistant special teams coach for the Minnesota Vikings in 2022. “You can change field position. If you’re talking about 100 yards, that’s points. That’s what we would like to do, and it’s good to emphasize it throughout the team.”
Last season, Denver’s special teams unit was one of many issues. Longtime kicker Brandon McManus, who was released in May, made 77.8% of his field goals.
Kotwica said the team’s decision to let go of McManus was tough but he’s excited about the competition between kickers Elliott Fry and Randy Bullock, the former Tennessee Titan who was brought in by the Broncos as a veteran tryout during minicamp. Bullock has converted 83.4% of his field goals during his 12-year career.
“Some positions can be ambiguous. That job is pretty straightforward,” Kotwica said. “The ball either goes through or it doesn’t. We’ll see how it shakes out. Again, it’s a work in progress, but I’m excited about that opportunity for those guys.”
Besides McManus missing eight field goal attempts, the Broncos’ issues in the return game were glaring. Returner Montrell Washington struggled in his rookie season, as Denver finished last in kick return yardage (420) and 20th in yards per punt return (8.3).
Kotwica said he’s worked with Washington on calming his mind after fumbling the ball five times as a rookie.
“We’ve talked to (Washington) about that,” Kotwica said. “He has that athletic ability. I think it’s (about) continuing to (show) confidence in the player. ”
At 48, Kotwica has worked for five different NFL teams. Before Kotwica coached special teams, he spent eight years in the U.S. Army as a helicopter pilot. Kotwica said his military experience influenced his coaching style.
“You’re bringing people together from various backgrounds, ethnicities, and ages,” he said. “When I was a commander, I had a 43-year-old war officer that was a pilot and a crew chief that was 19.”
Kotwica, Westhoff and Banjo know what they want the special teams to look like. Although Westhoff didn’t want to place expectations on the group just yet, he’s focused on making them one of the best in the league.
“I don’t want to have penalties. I don’t want to make mistakes. I want to make big plays,” Westhoff said. “I want to take every opportunity and make the best of it. That’s my goal.”
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