A long-time football coach and Husker alumni earned a reward from the Pro Football Hall of Fame in late June. Monte Kiffin, father of Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin, received the Hall of Fame’s Award of Excellence for his career as a defensive coordinator in the NFL.
Kiffin coached in the NFL from 1983 to 2016, making numerous stops across the league. He is known for his main tenure as defensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers between 1996 and 2008.
There, he helped lead the Buccaneers to become a threatening defense that allowed the fewest points per game (17.5) while ranking second in both yards allowed per game (286.8) and total takeaways (293) during his reign.
He helped architect the iconic “Tampa 2” defense that revolutionized the NFL. This defense culminated in the Buccaneers’ Super Bowl XXXVII win, which saw three Tampa Bay pick-sixes. Kiffin’s time with the Buccaneers helped him become a member of Tampa Bay’s Ring of Honor.
Kiffin also coached as the defensive coordinator for Nebraska from 1969 to 1976, helping the Huskers to the 1970 and 1971 national championships. He also played for Nebraska from 1959 to 1963 as a defensive and offensive lineman.
What an amazing accomplishment and career!! Congratulations Dad @ProFootballHOF @Buccaneers pic.twitter.com/xi1LcYyc5e
— Lane Kiffin (@Lane_Kiffin) June 28, 2024
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