Our Clients:

Field Level Media - Professional sports content solutions | FLM

Jul 15, 2024 6:31 pm

Lane Kiffin remembers late father Monte at SEC Media Days

lane kiffin

Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin will be moving forward with a heavy heart this season after the recent passing of his father, distinguished NFL coach Monte Kiffin.

Monte Kiffin died Thursday at age 84, leaving behind a legacy in the “Tampa 2” defense that he pioneered during a football career spanning several decades.

That defense helped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers win Super Bowl XXXVII while Monte Kiffin was the coordinator. He had one three-year stint as a head coach, 1980-82 at North Carolina State, and otherwise made his mark as a coordinator and position coach.

“Really grateful and thankful to so many people that have supported this challenging week from all over the country,” Lane Kiffin said in his opening statement at SEC Media Days.

“It’s just an amazing outpouring of support, stories from former players, former coaches, and especially former staff of people in the building and how many friends came out of that in the Bucs community and family.”

The younger Kiffin alluded to a celebration of life planned for his father this Saturday in the Tampa area, but he took the time to honor his dad before getting into questions about the Rebels’ upcoming season.

“In my opinion, it’s not really the place or the time to go into a lot on this; that will be Saturday in Tampa,” Lane Kiffin said. “I’ll just say one thing. I’ve talked before about (Monte Kiffin) being my hero. I had a high school neighborhood friend, middle school friend, and he said hero is not really the right term for him, it’s superhero.

“It’s what (Monte Kiffin) was to the people that he touched. (The friend) used this term, and now I’m using this term in description of him, because I feel like there is very few superheroes and very few great ones that loved everyone and tried to help everyone they came in touch with forever. Whether you were big or small, wherever you were, he tried to help.”

Lane Kiffin, entering his fifth season as Ole Miss’ head coach, said it was time for him to “show up” and get to work — it’s what his father would have wanted.

“I appreciate everything and already been a lot of questions about it. I understand that. I’m appreciative of that,” he said. “But as (Monte Kiffin) would say, his first rule when you put on the chalkboard back in the day to all players and coaches was to show up. First rule of getting better is you got to show up. Show up and do your job. That’s what I’m trying to do here.”

–Field Level Media

You may also like

ncaa flag
Jul 5, 2025 1:07 pm

After SEC visits, 4-star WR Xavier McDonald picks Sacramento State

Sacramento State head coach Brennan Marion reached into Southeastern Conference territory and plucked a surprise commitment from four-star wide receiver Xavier McDonald. McDonald, from Morton, Miss., is the highest commit…

texas flood
Jul 5, 2025 1:02 pm

Houston Texans donate $500K to help flood victims

The Houston Texans announced a $500,000 commitment Saturday to support those affected by the deadly floods in the Texas Hill Country. As of noon ET on Saturday, rescuers were still…

kaydon finley aledo
Jul 5, 2025 11:32 am

WR Kaydon Finley shuns dad’s alma mater, picks Notre Dame

Four-star wide receiver Kaydon Finley has committed to Notre Dame’s 2026 recruiting class. He is the son of former NFL tight end Jermichael Finley, who played his college ball at…

More Football News

ncaa flag
Jul 5, 2025 1:07 pm

After SEC visits, 4-star WR Xavier McDonald picks Sacramento State

Sacramento State head coach Brennan Marion reached into Southeastern Conference territory and plucked a surprise commitment from four-star wide receiver Xavier McDonald. McDonald, from Morton, Miss., is the highest commit…

texas flood
Jul 5, 2025 1:02 pm

Houston Texans donate $500K to help flood victims

kaydon finley aledo
Jul 5, 2025 11:32 am

WR Kaydon Finley shuns dad’s alma mater, picks Notre Dame

philadelphia eagles helmet
Jul 5, 2025 11:25 am

Former NFL LB Bryan Braman battling rare cancer

deion sanders
Jul 5, 2025 10:46 am

Ailing Deion Sanders expected to return to work soon

Read all
fb-post
advertisment
title-icon

Upcoming events

See all odds
[gs-fb-comments]