Westhoff comes out of retirement to join Saints

Mike Westhoff is back in the NFL. The former Jets special teams coach accepted a position with the Saints on Wednesday. He will oversee the team’s special teams units for the rest of the season. It is unclear what his title will be. The Saints have not made an official announcement yet. Westhoff retired from the Jets at the end of the 2012 season after 12 seasons of overseeing the team’s special teams under three different coaches.

Westhoff, 69, told The Post he was not looking to coach again, but Saints coach Sean Payton approached him with an opportunity he felt was too good to pass up. He will oversee the special teams units for the rest of this season, which he said he hopes goes to February for the Saints, who are currently 7-2. It is not a long-term position.

“I didn’t want to regret something I didn’t try,” Westhoff said.

Westhoff was at Saints practice Wednesday, working with the team. The Saints retained special teams coach Bradford Banta, who will work with Westhoff.

The Jets had one of the league’s best special teams units under Westhoff. They have struggled since. They have not returned a punt or kickoff for a touchdown since Westhoff ’s last season, in 2012. They have had four different special teams coaches since he left.

Westhoff will see his former team on Dec. 17 when the Saints and Jets meet in New Orleans.