‘Tampa 2′ architect, NFL defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin dies

The University of Mississippi announced the death of longtime NFL and college football coach Monte Kiffin. He was 84.

The university said Kiffin died in Oxford, Mississippi, surrounded by friends and family.

CNN reported that Kiffin was a defensive coordinator in the NFL working with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for 13 seasons. He also was on the coaching staff for the Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints and Dallas Cowboys.

Kiffin’s college and NFL coaching career spanned more than 50 years, The Washington Post reported. He was hired by Nebraska in 1966 and then was a coordinator at Arkanas, Tennessee, USC, Florida Atlantic and Ole Miss.

He was head coach for only one team, N.C. State, where he went 16-17 between 1980 to 1982, the newspaper reported.

Kiffin developed the “Tampa 2″ defense that helped the Buccaneers beat the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl 37 in 2003.

Kiffin was a defensive analyst at the University of Mississippi since 2020, working with his son Lane Kiffin, who paid tribute to his father on social media, calling him simply “My Hero.”

Kiffin’s other son, Chris, has served as an assistant coach in both the NFL and NCAA, the Post reported.

Buccaneers owners, the Glazer family, said of Kiffin: “As a coach, Monte was a true innovator who got the best out of his players and helped create one of the signature defenses of the early 2000s.

“His passionate and energetic leadership style resonated with all his players, and he was instrumental in our first Super Bowl win and the success of Hall of Famers such as Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks, John Lynch and Ronde Barber.”

The Buccaneers brought Kiffin into its Ring of Honor three years ago, The Associated Press reported. During his tenure the team’s defense had the fewest points allowed per game, was second in takeaways and yards allowed per game, third in interceptions, and 10th in sacks.

Kiffin was awarded the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Award of Excellence earlier this year, the Post reported.

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