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.