According to Richard Sandomir of New York Times on Wednesday, former Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin of Lexington, Nebraska passed away this past week at the age of 84. Kiffin is best known for creating complicated defensive schemes for the Buccaneers in leading Tampa Bay to a Super Bowl title in 2023. In Super Bowl XXXVII, the Buccaneers defeated the Oakland Raiders 48-21 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California.
Kiffin worked alongside Jon Gruden of Sandusky, Ohio, with the Buccaneers. Gruden was considered one of the best NFL coaches just five years ago when he coached the Oakland Raiders.
Kiffin was with the Buccaneers from 1996 to 2008. He was also the linebackers coach for the Green Bay Packers in 1983, the Buffalo Bills from 1984 to 1985, the Minnesota Vikings from 1986 to 1989 and again from 1992 to 1994, and the New York Jets in 1990.
Kiffin was also a defensive coordinator with other franchises in addition to the Buccaneers. He was with the Vikings in 1991, the New Orleans Saints in 1995, and the Dallas Cowboys in 2013.
At the collegiate level, Kiffin was also the head coach at North Carolina State from 1980 to 1982, and the assistant head coach at the University of Southern California from 2010 to 2012. He is also the father of Lane Kiffin, the head coach of the University of Mississippi.
As a player, Kiffin played in the Canadian Football League. He was a defensive end for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 1965. That season, the Blue Bombers reached the 53rd Grey Cup at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto, Ontario, before losing 22-16 to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
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