Monte George Kiffin (February 29, 1940 – July 11, 2024) was an American football coach. He is widely considered to have been one of the preeminent defensive coordinators in modern football, as well as one of the greatest defensive coordinators in NFL history. Father of the widely imitated "Tampa 2" defense, Kiffin's concepts are among the most influential in modern college and pro football.[1]
He spent nearly 30 years as an NFL assistant coach, including 13 years as defensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with whom he won Super Bowl XXXVII. His defensive units finished ranked in the top 10 in points allowed and yards allowed 10 times during that period, an NFL record.[2] Later in his career, he worked with his son Lane, who has served as the head coach of several major college programs.
Kiffin earned a reported $2 million annual salary during his time with Buccaneers and turned down several NFL head coaching jobs during his career. His only head coaching job was at North Carolina State University from 1980 to 1982.
After Tony Dungy was dismissed by the Buccaneer front office following the 2001 season, Kiffin was persuaded by incoming head coach Jon Gruden to remain in Tampa and continue to run his defense. Kiffin had been interviewed for a head coaching position with the San Francisco 49ers. With the seamless transition on defense allowing the new coaching staff to focus intently on a more potent offensive philosophy, the result was an immediate balance between offense and defense that carried the Buccaneers to the organization's first championship in Super Bowl XXXVII on January 26, 2003 in San Diego, California.
Controversy surrounded Kiffin's departure from Tampa Bay. After Lane Kiffin signed with Tennessee, Tampa's typically stout defense underperformed. The Bucs lost their final four games of the 2008 season, ending up 9–7, and missed the playoffs. Reports stated that Gruden refused to allow Kiffin to announce his departure to Tennessee mid-season. Allegations were made that Kiffin refused to participate in normal coaching meetings. Neither Kiffin nor Jon Gruden openly discussed these events.
On January 11, 2013, following the 2012 NFL season, Kiffin was hired as defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys.[5] Kiffin was demoted on January 28, 2014 in favor of defensive line coach Rod Marinelli.[6] At the end of the 2014 season Kiffin's contract was allowed to lapse, and it was not renewed by the Cowboys.[7]
Kiffin joined the Jacksonville Jaguars as a defensive assistant in March 2016.[8]
Defensive philosophy
Monte Kiffin is the mastermind behind the Tampa 2 scheme, which is a slight modification of the Cover 2 scheme.[9]