NFL and college football legend Monte Kiffin dead at 84: Ole Miss pays tribute to father of head coach Lane
Monte Kiffin, a veteran NFL and college football defensive coordinator, has died at the age of 84, Ole Miss said in a statement on social media.
Kiffin, the father of current Rebels head coach Lane, was surrounded by family and friends when he died Thursday, the school said.
“As his grandson Knox said, he is pain free and smiling down on us from above. Please keep the Kiffin family in your thoughts and prayers during this time,” the viral post on X read.
Kiffin, who has served as a defensive analyst on his son’s coaching staff since 2020, was one of the architects behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ formidable defense that won the 2002 Super Bowl. Along with Tony Dungy, he built the highly effective “Tampa 2” scheme that led the Bucs to great success and influenced opposing defenses.
Kiffin served as the Bucs’ defensive coordinator for 13 of his 16 NFL seasons, but also served in the same role for just one year with the Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints and Dallas Cowboys.
Monte Kiffin, known for his impact on the Buccaneers, died surrounded by family and friends
Kiffin’s son Lane is the head coach of the Ole Miss football team. The duo have worked together since 2020
Earlier on Thursday, Lane shared two throwback photos of himself as a child and with his father at X, captioning them, “My hero.”
Kiffin’s other son, Chris, is a defensive line coach for Lane’s Ole Miss football team.
In March, Kiffin was one of 15 individuals honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame through its Awards for Excellence Program.
“Monte Kiffin was a beloved and iconic member of the Buccaneers family, and our entire organization mourns his loss today. As a coach, Monte was a true innovator who brought out the best in his players and helped create one of the signature defenses of the early 2000s,” the Bucs shared in a tribute to the Oxford, Mississippi native on X.
Kiffin led the Bucs team to the 2002 Super Bowl with one of the most relentless defenses in history
‘…Off the field, Monte was kind, genuine, courteous and always had a positive attitude. He was very special to the Buccaneers organization and our family.
“We extend our sincere condolences to his wife Robin, his sons Land Chris, his daughter Heidi and the entire Kiffin family.”
ESPN NFL analyst Robert Griffin III also honored Kiffin on social media, sharing a post on X in which he described the veteran football coach as one of the “greatest defensive minds we’ve ever had.”
The former Washington Commanders quarterback added: “In my conversations with Lane about football, Monte’s biggest title was his hero.”