Monte Kiffin, the longtime defensive coordinator at each the NFL and faculty ranges who turned the innovator behind the famend “Tampa 2” protection, died Wednesday at age 84. The daddy of Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin, the elder Kiffin’s teaching profession stretched again to 1966 when he began as a graduate assistant at Nebraska. He was most just lately a participant personnel analyst for the Rebels.
“As his grandson Knox mentioned, he is freed from ache and smiling down on us from above,” a social media assertion from the college mentioned. “Please maintain the Kiffin household in your ideas and prayers throughout this time.”
Kiffin’s “Tampa 2” protection was a variant of Tony Dungy’s “Cowl 2” that helped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers win Tremendous Bowl XXXVII. The 2002 Buccaneers’ protection is considered one of many NFL’s all-time nice models. In opposition to the Raiders in that yr’s Tremendous Bowl, Tampa’s protection picked off then-NFL MVP Wealthy Gannon 5 instances, returning three for scores. The Buccaneers’ protection featured future Corridor of Famers Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks, John Lynch and Ronde Barber.
Together with teaching future Corridor of Famers, Kiffin was concerned within the hiring of six former assistant coaches who would finally grow to be NFL head coaches. That checklist consists of present Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and Falcons first-year head coach Raheem Morris. Tomlin was 29 years outdated when Kiffin and Co. gave him his first NFL alternative because the Buccaneers’ defensive backs coach.
“We interviewed 15, 16 guys for the secondary job,” Kiffin as soon as mentioned about hiring Tomlin. “Then we heard a few younger man on the College of Cincinnati by the identify of Mike Tomlin. Rick Minter was the pinnacle coach. I had labored with him. I mentioned, ‘I heard you’ve gotten a younger coach who’s beneath the radar.’ He mentioned, ‘How did you hear about him?’ I mentioned, ‘I have been snooping round.’
“So I known as Mike, and I mentioned, ‘That is Coach Kiffin from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.’ He did not imagine it was me. He was excellent within the interview. I took him out on the sector. I name it the ‘it issue.’ Some guys simply have it. You’ll be able to really feel it. Mike was 29 on the time.”
Kiffin labored with quite a few NFL and faculty groups as an assistant coach, largely teaching linebackers and serving as defensive coordinator. He additionally served because the coach at NC State from 1980-1982, the place he compiled a 16-17 report.
Earlier this yr, Kiffin was honored by the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame by their Awards for Excellence program, which acknowledges those that have made vital contributions to the sport.
Along with Lane, Monte’s youngest son Chris additionally adopted his father within the teaching occupation and at the moment serves because the linebackers coach for the Houston Texans.
