Monte Kiffin, a pivotal figure in football coaching history, passed away Thursday at the age of 84, as announced by Ole Miss. The university reported that Kiffin was surrounded by family and friends in Oxford at the time of his passing. The cause of death was not disclosed.
Kiffin’s son, Lane Kiffin, who is the current head coach of Ole Miss football, shared two photos of his father on social media earlier Thursday, referring to him as “my hero.”
Kiffin’s coaching career spanned from 1966 to 2023, involving roles with eight different NFL teams and seven college teams, primarily focusing on defensive coaching. His NFL career included positions as defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, Dallas Cowboys, and notably, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
During his 12-year stint with Tampa Bay, Kiffin, alongside Tony Dungy, developed the renowned “Tampa 2” defense. This defensive strategy became widely adopted across the league and contributed to the Buccaneers’ victory in Super Bowl XXXVII against the Raiders, with Kiffin leading the defense under head coach Jon Gruden.
Kiffin began his coaching journey as a graduate assistant at Nebraska under Bob Devaney. He advanced to the position of defensive coordinator in 1969 and contributed to the Cornhuskers’ consecutive undefeated national championship teams in 1970 and 1971. When Tom Osborne became head coach in 1973, Kiffin continued as the defensive coordinator.
Kiffin’s only head coaching role was with NC State, where he held a 16-17 record over three seasons from 1980 to 1982. He then transitioned to the NFL, securing continuous employment for over two decades.
Kiffin returned to college football when Lane Kiffin became the head coach at Tennessee, appointing his father as defensive coordinator. This period lasted only a year, as Lane moved to USC the following offseason, bringing Monte along as an assistant head coach. They later collaborated in smaller roles at Florida Atlantic and Ole Miss.
