Ex-Broncos assistant honored by Pro Football Hall of Fame

A former Denver Bronco assistant coach is being honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame for his contributions on special teams. Former Broncos assistant head coach Mike Westhoff was selected as one of three assistant coaches to win the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame's Award of Excellence. "The Pro Football Hall of Fame established the Awards of Excellence in 2022 to recognize significant contributors to the game in 'behind-the-scenes' roles," the Hall of Fame said in a press release.

"In addition to athletic trainers, the program honors career Assistant Coaches, Equipment Managers, Public Relations Directors and Film/Video Directors. " The Hall of Fame called Westhoff "a dynamically influential special teams coach" in the release. Westhoff spent most of his 33-year career in AFC East, before becoming acquainted with then-New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton, joining Payton's staff in the middle of the 2017 season, and staying with the Saints through 2018.

After 2018, Westhoff retired, but that was not the end of his coaching story. Westhoff came out of retirement in 2023 to rejoin Payton, this time in Denver . With the Broncos , Westhoff became a mentor to now-New York Jets special teams coordinator Chris Banjo , before retiring again in 2024, this time due to health concerns .

At the time of his retirement in 2024, Payton called Westhoff a Hall of Fame-worthy assistant coach. "It’s not often that assistant coaches get into the Hall of Fame. I’m not — I’m just saying, if there was, he’s one of those top special teams’ coordinators," said Payton.