The University of Mississippi announced the death of Monte Kiffin this evening (Thursday). He was 84.
Kiffin was born and grew up in Lexington, before being a member of the Nebraska football team from 1959-1963. After a brief professional playing career in the Continental Football League and Canadian Football League, he returned to Lincoln to coach under Bob Devaney.
The longtime Nebraska and NFL Defensive Coordinator was the Defensive Coordinator for the Huskers 1970 and 1971 National Championship teams, and won Super Bowl XXXVII with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2003. His tenure with the Buccaneers as DC (1996-2008) ranks as the longest tenured coach in franchise history. While in Tampa, he also helped create and implement the Tampa 2 Defense with Tony Dungy.
His sons have also followed in his footsteps, with his son Lane serving the head coach at the University of Mississippi, and son Chris most recently being the Linebackers Coach for the Houston Texans.
Earlier this year, Kiffin was awarded with the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Awards of Excellence. Click here to read an article from CentralNebraskaTODAY.com’s Brian Neben on the Award.
