The football world and the family of Lane Kiffin in particular are in mourning today as Kiffin’s father, legendary college and NFL coach Monte Kiffin passed away. He was 84 years old.
On Thursday, Ole Miss announced that their head coach’s father and former player personnel analyst passed away peacefully in Oxford, Mississippi.
“Monte Kiffin, 84, peacefully passed away today in Oxford surrounded by family and friends. As his grandson Knox said, he’s free of pain and smiling down on us from above. Please keep the Kiffin family in your thoughts and prayers during this time,” the school said in a statement.
Kiffin’s coaching career spanned nearly 60 years and saw him reach the pinnacle of both college football and the NFL while working as an assistant. He won back-to-back national championships at Nebraska in 1970 and 1971 as their defensive coordinator and was the architect of the 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Super Bowl-winning defense.
Kiffin only spent three years as a head coach, running the NC State Wolfpack from 1980 to 1982 but going just 16-17 and never reaching a bowl game.
His 58-year career included stops at Nebraska, Arkansas, NC State, the Green Bay Packers, the Buffalo Bills, Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, University of Tennessee, USC, Dallas Cowboys, Jacksonville Jaguars, Florida Atlantic and finally Ole Miss.
Perhaps his most enduring legacy is the creation of the “Tampa-2” defense – a philosophy that prioritizes speed, ceding yards while preventing points, disguised looks and focusing on turnovers. It helped the Bucs win their first Super Bowl and has helped countless other NFL teams enjoy sustained success as well.
Our hearts go out to the Kiffin family and their loved ones.
Related: Breaking: Ole Miss Announces New Contract For Lane Kiffin