Longtime NFL and college football defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin has died at the age of 84, according to a statement shared by Ole Miss on social media.
Kiffin, the father of current Rebels head coach Lane, was surrounded by family and friends at the time of his passing Thursday, the school said.
“As his grandson Knox said, he is no longer in pain and smiling down on us from above. Please keep the Kiffin family in your thoughts and prayers during this time,” reads the viral post on X.
Kiffin, who had worked on his son’s coaching staff as a defensive analyst since 2020, was one of the architects behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ tough 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 other teams’ defenses.
Kiffin spent 13 of his 16 NFL seasons as the Bucs’ defensive coordinator, but also held the same position with the Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints and Dallas Cowboys for a single year each.
Monte Kiffin, known for his impact on the Buccaneers, died surrounded by family and friends.
Kiffin’s son Lane is the head football coach at Ole Miss. The duo has worked together since 2020.
Earlier on Thursday, Lane shared two snaps of himself as a child with his father on X, captioning his post: “My hero.”
Kiffin’s other son, Chris, is the defensive line coach on Lane’s football team at Ole Miss.
In March, Kiffin was one of 15 inductees into the Pro Football Hall of Fame through its Excellence Awards 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 iconic defenses of the early 2000s,” the Bucs shared in tribute to the Oxford, Mississippi, native on X.
Kiffin led the Bucs to the 2002 Super Bowl with one of the toughest 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 to our family.
‘We send our deepest 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 by sharing an X-rated post 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 most important title is his Hero.”