Mike Westhoff won’t be returning to the Jets as their special teams coordinator.
Westhoff told The Post on Tuesday he had “listened” to apparent overtures from Gang Green about reclaiming the job he held for 11 years before retiring after the 2012 season, but decided his heart wasn’t in it.
Westhoff said he will instead consult with coach Rex Ryan on special teams only during the offseason (Westhoff works for ESPN during the season), and he already has recommended “a couple of people” as candidates to replace Ben Kotwica, who left this month to become the Redskins’ special teams coach.
“No, I’m done,” Westhoff told The Post while making an appearance Tuesday afternoon at the Super Bowl media center in Midtown. “With the way the league is going with special teams, it just doesn’t interest me anymore to coach them.”
Westhoff was referring to indications from the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell in recent months that everything from kickoffs to the extra point could be eliminated in the next few years out of concerns for player safety and as a way to take “useless” plays out of the game.
“It doesn’t sound like there’s going to be much [for special teams coaches] to coach in a few years,” Westhoff said.
Speculation about Westhoff returning to the Jets was sparked by an interview he gave earlier this month, in which he said he would consider going back to the team.