Steve Nesius/AP
Monte Giffin has died at the age of 84.
CNN
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Longtime NFL and college coach Monte Giffin has died at the age of 84 at the University of Mississippi. declared Thursday.
Kiffin passed away peacefully in Oxford, Mississippi, surrounded by friends and family, the school said.
“As his grandson Knox said, he is out of pain and smiling down at us from above,” the school said in a statement on social media. “Please keep the Kiffin family in your thoughts and prayers at this time.”
Kiffin was the longest-serving defensive coordinator in the NFL, spending 13 seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints and Dallas Cowboys.
He is credited as the mastermind behind the “Tampa 2” defensive scheme that helped lead the Buccaneers to a Super Bowl XXXVII victory over the Oakland Raiders in 2002.
The Glazer family, which owns the Buccaneers, called Monte a “beloved and iconic member” of the organization.
“As a coach, Monte was a true innovator who got the best out of his players and helped build one of the signature defenses of the early 2000s,” the Glazer family said in a statement. Report.
“His passionate and dynamic leadership style resonated with all of his players, and he was instrumental in our first Super Bowl victory and the success of Hall of Famers such as Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks, John Lynch and Rondae Barber. Off the field, Monte is kind, genuine and gracious. And always had a positive attitude.
“He was very special to the Buccaneers organization and to our family. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his wife, Robin, sons, Lane and Chris, daughter Heidi, and the entire Kiffin family.
Kiffin also served as the defensive coordinator on his son Lane’s staff when he was a defensive analyst at the University of Tennessee in 2009, the University of Southern California from 2010-2012, and then at Florida Atlantic University.
Lane has been Ole Miss’ head coach since 2020, where Monte was an analyst on staff.
Earlier Thursday, Lane X posted photos of him and his fatherFormerly known as Twitter, with the title “My Hero”.
