Monte Kiffin obit

Former NFL defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin has died

 

He was not on the list.

Former NFL defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin died Thursday in Oxford, Mississippi, surrounded by family and friends, the University of Mississippi announced. Kiffin was 84.

“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,” Ole Miss said in its statement.

Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin is Monte’s son.

Kiffin spent almost 30 years coaching in the NFL and ranks as the longest-tenured coach in Buccaneers franchise history. He was with the Bucs from 1996-2008 under Tony Dungy (1996-2001) and Jon Gruden (2002-08) and is in the team’s Ring of Honor.

Kiffin joined Dungy’s coaching staff as defensive coordinator in 1996 and helped create and implement the Tampa 2 defense. The team’s defense improved from 27th overall in 1995 to 11th in Kiffin’s first year as coordinator.

During Kiffin’s 13 seasons leading Tampa Bay’s defense, the unit ranked in the top 10 in yards allowed 11 times and in points allowed 12 times. During that same 13-year span, the defense led the league in points allowed per game (17.5), ranked second in takeaways (293) and yards allowed per game (286.8), third in interceptions (249) and 10th in total sacks (503).

Under Kiffin’s leadership, eight different Buccaneers defensive players made a combined 36 Pro Bowl appearances, while six also earned All-Pro team recognition. Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks, Ronde Barber and John Lynch are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Controversy surrounded Kiffin's departure from Tampa Bay. After Lane Kiffin signed with Tennessee, Tampa's typically stout defense underperformed. The Bucs lost their final four games of the 2008 season, ending up 9–7, and missed the playoffs. Reports stated that Gruden refused to allow Kiffin to announce his departure to Tennessee mid-season. Allegations were made that Kiffin refused to participate in normal coaching meetings. Neither Kiffin nor Jon Gruden has openly discussed these events.

Kiffin was the Cowboys defensive coordinator in 2013.

On January 11, 2013, following the 2012 NFL season, Kiffin was hired as defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys. Kiffin was demoted on January 28, 2014 in favor of defensive line coach Rod Marinelli. At the end of the 2014 season Kiffin's contract was allowed to lapse, and it was not renewed by the Cowboys.

Kiffin joined the Jacksonville Jaguars as a defensive assistant in March 2016.

He also served as an assistant coach with the Packers, Bills, Vikings, Saints and Jaguars.

Kiffin, the head coach at North Carolina State from 1980-82, also was an assistant for his son at three different stops.

Kiffin was at the Pro Football Hall of Fame two weeks ago to receive an Award of Excellence.

His younger son, Chris, played football at Colorado State and was most recently the linebackers coach for the Houston Texans

Career history

As a player:

Minnesota Vikings (1964)*

Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1965)

Toronto Rifles (1966)

Brooklyn Dodgers (1966)

 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only

As a coach:

Nebraska (1966–1968)

Graduate assistant

Nebraska (1969–1976)

Defensive coordinator

Arkansas (1977–1978)

Defensive coordinator

Arkansas (1979)

Assistant head coach & defensive coordinator

North Carolina State (1980–1982)

Head coach

Green Bay Packers (1983)

Linebackers coach

Buffalo Bills (1984–1985)

Linebackers coach

Minnesota Vikings (1986–1989)

Linebackers coach

New York Jets (1990)

Linebackers coach

Minnesota Vikings (1991)

Defensive coordinator

Minnesota Vikings (1992–1994)

Linebackers coach

New Orleans Saints (1995)

Defensive coordinator

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1996–2008)

Defensive coordinator

Tennessee (2009)

Defensive coordinator

USC (2010–2012)

Assistant head coach

Dallas Cowboys (2013)

Defensive coordinator

Dallas Cowboys (2014)

Assistant head coach for defense

Jacksonville Jaguars (2016)

Defensive assistant

Florida Atlantic (2017–2019)

Defensive assistant

Ole Miss (2020–2023)

Player personnel analyst

Career highlights and awards

Super Bowl champion (XXXVII)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Ring of Honor

2× College Football National Champion - Nebraska (1970, 1971)