Tag: Monte Kiffin

Legendary former Bucs coach Monte Kiffin dies at 84

Monte Kiffin, the legendary former defensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, died Thursday at the age of 84

Monte Kiffin, the legendary defensive coordinator who built one of the most dominant defenses in NFL history with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, died Thursday at the age of 84.

The news was announced my the Ole Miss football program, where Kiffin had previously served as an assistant under his son, head coach Lane Kiffin.

Kiffin spent nine seasons as the defensive coordinator in Tampa Bay, orchestrating the famous “Tampa 2” defense that was often imitated but never replicated by other teams across the NFL.

A member of the Bucs’ Ring of Honor, Kiffin began his iconic coaching career as an assistant at the University of Nebraska, he had played collegiately. He was the defensive coordinator for the Cornhuskers’ back-to-back national championship teams in 1970 and 1971.

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Former Cowboys DC Monte Kiffin to be honored with Hall of Fame Award of Excellence

From @ToddBrock24f7: Kiffin was on staff in Dallas just 2 seasons, but the influence of one the game’s greatest defensive masterminds can still be felt today.

A former Cowboys coordinator and one of the greatest defensive minds in football history has received recognition from the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Monte Kiffin was named this week as one of 15 recipients of the Hall of Fame’s Award of Excellence. This is the third year for the award, meant to honor assistant coaches, athletic trainers, equipment managers, public relations personnel and film/video directors who have made significant contributions to the sport. The recipients are not nominated or voted on by the Hall of Fame.

Kiffin served as the Cowboys defensive coordinator for the 2013 season in what was Jason Garrett’s third full year as head coach. He had already been coaching at the college and pro levels for over 45 years, created the revolutionary Tampa-2 defense, and won a Super Bowl ring with the Buccaneers by the time he came to Dallas.

Despite having a defensive roster anchored by DeMarcus Ware, Sean Lee and Jason Hatcher in a Pro Bowl year, the 2013 Cowboys struggled to just an 8-8 finish and missed the postseason.

Kiffin lost the DC job to Rod Marinelli for 2014 but stayed with the team as an assistant head coach for the defense. Dallas put together a 12-4 season, finished in a three-way tie for the NFC East title, and made it to the divisional round of the playoffs.

Kiffin’s fingerprints can be seen all over NFL defenses even today, and his influence still remains in Dallas. Mike McCarthy comes from the Marty Schottenheimer coaching tree, as did Kiffin. And the current Cowboys defense, which was put together by Dan Quinn, is based on philosophies Quinn developed under Pete Carroll, who in turn was mentored by Kiffin.

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Using safeties as linebackers, prioritizing speed over size, deploying multiple defenses from a single look, emphasizing takeaways and being willing to give up yards but not allowing teams to score — all are signatures of the scheme Kiffin invented.

Now 84, Kiffin works as a consultant and player personnel analyst at Ole Miss, where his son Lane is the head football coach.

Former offensive coordinator Ernie Zampese, equipment manager “Buck” Buchanan and longtime PR exec Greg Aiello are among the previous Awards of Excellence winners with Cowboys ties.

This year’s Awards of Excellence recipients will be recognized in Canton June 26-27.

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Bucs legends honored by Pro Football Hall of Fame

A pair of Tampa Bay Buccaneers legends are receiving awards from the Pro Football Hall of Fame

A pair of Tampa Bay Buccaneers legends are being honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Former defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin and video director Dave Levy have been given the “Award of Excellence,” honoring both with their own spot in Canton.

Kiffin was the architect of the iconic “Tampa 2” defense that revolutionized the NFL, and was punctuated by one of the most dominant seasons in league history, one that finished with the Bucs’ first Lombardi Trophy in 2002.

Levy spent nearly 30 years as the Bucs’ video director, and is widely regarded as a legendary figure in league history in his position.

Congrats to both on a well-deserved honor.

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Monte Kiffin to be inducted into Buccaneers Ring of Honor

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have announced that former defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin will become the 14th member of their ring of honor.

Monte Kiffin, who spent 13 seasons as the defensive coordinator of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1996 to 2008, including during their championship season of 2002, will become the 14th member of the Buccaneers Ring of Honor.

Per Scott Smith, the Glazer Family surprised Kiffin with this news on Friday evening during what was already a surprise 80th birthday party for Kiffin in the stadium’s Hall of Fame Club.

Kiffin’s birthday is actually February 29, so he’s a leap year baby!

Here’s what Buccaneers Owner/Co-Chairman Bryan Glazer said of Kiffin:

“Monte Kiffin’s contributions to building and sustaining one of the most dominant defenses in NFL history were crucial to our franchise’s most successful era. Monte worked closely with Tony Dungy and Jon Gruden using his signature defense that became the team’s identity and was a key part of winning the Super Bowl. He was an outstanding coach, teacher and leader who consistently got the best out of his players and we eagerly anticipate welcoming him into our Ring of Honor this upcoming season.”

Congrats, and happy (early) birthday to Kiffin. Also, if he stuffs himself with birthday cake is he considered the full Monte? (Dad Joke 101.)

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This defensive stat from the Monte Kiffin era is truly mind-boggling

Take a look at this stat, which shows how great the Bucs defense was under former coordinator Monte Kiffin.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense ranked 15th overall in the NFL in 2019, allowing 343.9 yards per game. It was a huge improvement over 2018, when the Bucs finished 27th (383.4 ypg allowed). Tampa Bay also had the league’s top rushing defense in 2019, and with Todd Bowles sticking around as defensive coordinator, there’s no telling how great this D could be next season.

It’d be a return to the glory days for the Bucs in many ways, since during their early run of dominance in the 2000s, which included their championship season of 2002, they were known for their stellar defenses. Running the defense back then was former coordinator Monte Kiffin, father of Lane. Kiffin was one of the great defensive minds in the game, and this stat proves it.

Take a look.

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