.png&width=32&height=32&type=webp)
The University of Mississippi Athletics
Honoring Football Legend Monte Kiffin
7/26/2024 | Football
OXFORD, Miss. – The Ole Miss family and the football world lost a legend and a spectacular human being this month with the passing of Monte Kiffin.
Kiffin immeasurably impacted countless teams during his illustrious football coaching career, including Ole Miss and his son Lane Kiffin’s program. Before joining Lane in Oxford, the elder Kiffin built a legacy as one of the greatest defensive minds in National Football League history, winning a Super Bowl and guiding some of the most feared defenses in the history of the game.
A recent recipient of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Award of Excellence and inductee into the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Ring of Honor, Kiffin’s impact will be felt throughout the game of football for generations to come. More importantly, his positive influence on those around him will as well.
Scroll on to see some of our favorite testimonials from those who loved and shared their lives with Monte Kiffin.
My Hero ???? ?@NCStateFB? ?@Vikings? pic.twitter.com/gHPAbrUQF1
— Lane Kiffin (@Lane_Kiffin) July 11, 2024
The Buccaneers organization is in mourning at the news that Monte Kiffin, one of the most iconic coaches in NFL history, passed away at the age of 84.https://t.co/40TY7Mb4AG pic.twitter.com/YbdoPHP2lF
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) July 12, 2024
Couldn't have said it better, @JohnLynch49ers. pic.twitter.com/GRclDma0d0
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) July 13, 2024
On behalf of Nebraska Football, our condolences go out to the family of former Husker player and coach Monte Kiffin and to those he impacted through his legendary career. pic.twitter.com/MnssnB2d4e
— Nebraska Football (@HuskerFootball) July 12, 2024
We mourn the passing of Monte Kiffin.
— Florida Atlantic Football (@FAUFootball) July 12, 2024
Please keep the Kiffin family in your hearts ??
?? https://t.co/liWY39nYVP pic.twitter.com/W2Fb0I6TF0
NC State Football Mourns the Loss of Former Head Coach Monte Kiffin
— NC State Football (@PackFootball) July 12, 2024
??: https://t.co/XAC865Rdpz pic.twitter.com/bd4AaPh4T2
Our thoughts are with the friends and family of former #Vikings assistant coach Monte Kiffin during this difficult time ???? https://t.co/xC9fRKbki8
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) July 11, 2024
Raheem Morris on the legacy of his mentor, Monte Kiffin pic.twitter.com/cDNxLKI6AO
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) July 12, 2024
Thanks for great talk with you tonight DAD. Thanks giving me the discipline to make it through today. I felt you giving me the ??. Talk to you tomorrow again. Looks like your shinning bright up there ?? My Super ??????? pic.twitter.com/lmGC2UZY6R
— Lane Kiffin (@Lane_Kiffin) July 21, 2024
Steve Sarkisian pays tribute to the late Monte Kiffin -
— Lane Kiffin (@Lane_Kiffin) July 18, 2024
He was a genuine man. He cared for all of those that nobody cared about,” ???? https://t.co/78gN0CBUc3
"Hero isn't the right term for him, it's superhero."@OleMissFB's @Lane_Kiffin on his late father Monte Kiffin ?? pic.twitter.com/VfwSOtLB7v
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) July 15, 2024
.@Geraldini93 on the legacy and impact of Monte Kiffin and the Tampa 2. pic.twitter.com/KS0zJIB9vd
— Jim Rome (@jimrome) July 15, 2024
Monte Kiffin died Thursday at 84, but his impact on the game of football will not die soon…Kiffin may have been the Bill Belichick of assistant coaches — irrefutably one of history’s greatest. He was an NFL assistant for 29 years, but he is celebrated mostly for the 13 years he presided over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense and dominated with a scheme now called the Tampa 2.Dan Pompei, The Athletic
Monte Kiffin, a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Ring of Honor and one of the most celebrated assistant coaches in NFL history, passed away on Thursday. He was 84. The Buccaneers family mourned the loss of one of the most beloved figures ever to grace their facilities.Tampa Bay Buccaneers
"Monte Kiffin was a beloved and iconic member of the Buccaneers family, and our entire organization mourns his loss today," said the Glazer Family, owners of the Buccaneers, in a statement. "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. Off the field, Monte was kind, genuine, gracious and always had a positive attitude. He was very special to the Buccaneers organization and our family. We send our heartfelt condolences to his wife, Robin, sons Lane and Chris, daughter Heidi and the entire Kiffin family."
But old-time Oklahomans remember that Kiffin’s roots were Nebraska, and the Big Red rumbles of yore always had a distinct Kiffin flare. Kiffin was born in and grew up in Lexington, Nebraska, 168 miles west of Lincoln on Interstate 80… Kiffin is Cornhusker royalty.Barry Tramel, Tulsa World
Dear Mr. Kiffin:Matt Becker, The Star Tribune (Minn.)
In 1989, when I was 13, you were my Little League Baseball coach in Bloomington. Your son Lane was also on the team. He was very, very good at baseball. I was not.
