Monte Kiffin, a former NFL defensive coordinator, passed away on Thursday in Oxford, Mississippi, at the age of 84, surrounded by loved ones, as announced by the University of Mississippi. Ole Miss also shared that Kiffin’s family appreciates thoughts and prayers during this time, emphasizing that he is now free of pain and watching over them with a smile from above, as expressed by his grandson Knox.
Notably, Monte Kiffin’s son, Lane Kiffin, is the head coach at Ole Miss. Kiffin had an illustrious career spanning nearly 30 years in the NFL and holds the record as the longest-serving coach in the history of the Buccaneers franchise. He achieved this during his tenure with the Bucs from 1996 to 2008 under Tony Dungy (1996-2001) and Jon Gruden (2002-08), and has been honored in the team’s Ring of Honor.
Joining Dungy’s coaching staff as defensive coordinator in 1996, Kiffin played a pivotal role in creating and implementing the famed Tampa 2 defense. His impact was evident as the team’s defense improved significantly, rising from 27th overall in 1995 to 11th in Kiffin’s first year as coordinator.
Throughout Kiffin’s 13 seasons leading Tampa Bay’s defense, the unit consistently ranked in the top 10 in various defensive categories, including yards allowed and points allowed. Over this same period, the defense excelled, leading the league in points allowed per game, ranking second in takeaways and yards allowed per game, third in interceptions, and 10th in total sacks.
During Kiffin’s tenure, eight distinct defensive players of the Buccaneers achieved a collective total of 36 appearances in the Pro Bowl, with six of them also earning recognition on the All-Pro team. Notably, Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks, Ronde Barber, and John Lynch, all renowned players, have been honored in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
In 2013, Kiffin held the position of defensive coordinator for the Cowboys.
Additionally, he worked as an assistant coach for various other teams including the Packers, Bills, Vikings, Saints, and Jaguars.
Before his NFL career, Kiffin served as the head coach at North Carolina State from 1980 to 1982 and later worked as an assistant for his son at three different coaching assignments
