Steve Nesias/AP
Monte Kiffin passed away at the age of 84.
CNN
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Longtime NFL and college coach Monte Kiffin has died at age 84. University of Mississippi Announced On Thursday.
Kiffin died peacefully in Oxford, Mississippi, surrounded by friends and family, the school said in a statement.
“As his grandson Knox said, he is free from pain and smiling down on us from heaven,” the school said in a social media statement. “Please keep the Kiffin family in your thoughts and prayers during this time.”
Kiffin was a long-time defensive coordinator in the NFL, spending 13 seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as well as several seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints and Dallas Cowboys.
He was also known as the architect of the “Tampa II” defensive strategy that led the Buccaneers to a Super Bowl XXXVII victory over the Oakland Raiders in 2002.
The Glazer family, who own the Buccaneers, said Monte was a “beloved and iconic member” of the team.
“As a coach, Monte was a true innovator who brought out the best in his players and helped develop one of the iconic defenses of the early 2000s,” the Glazers said. statement.
“His passionate, energetic leadership style resonated with all of our players and was a major contributor to our first Super Bowl victory and the success of Hall of Fame players such as Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks, John Lynch and Ronde Barber. Off the field, Monte was kind, loyal, respectful and always had a positive attitude.”
“He was a very special person to the Buccaneers organization and our family, and our heartfelt condolences go out to his wife Robin, sons Lane and Chris, daughter Heidi and the entire Kiffin family.”
Kiffin also served as defensive coordinator on Lane’s staff at Tennessee in 2009 and as a defensive analyst at Florida Atlantic University after spending 2010-12 at USC.
Lane has been the head coach at Ole Miss since 2020, with Monte serving as an analyst on the staff.
Lane early Thursday He posted a photo of him and his father on X.(formerly known as Twitter) with the caption, “My hero.”
