What Monte Kiffin Accomplished With The Bucs
July 11th, 2024
Ring of Honor member Monte Kiffin.
Earlier today, former Bucs defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, a 2021 Buccaneers Ring of Honor inductee, passed away in Oxford, Miss. He was 84.
The Buccaneers media relations department sent out a partial list of Kiffin’s accomplishments in his 13 Tampa Bay seasons, capped by the team’s first Super Bowl 22 years ago.
Of course, the key highlight was the legendary defense Kiffin crafted. He also crafted the Pro Football Hall of Fame careers of four Bucs defenders including Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks, John Lynch and Ronde Barber.
From the Bucs:
* Kiffin, a key architect of the renowned ‘Tampa 2’ defensive scheme, worked under the leadership of head coaches Tony Dungy (1996-2001) and Jon Gruden (2002-08). During his tenure, Kiffin’s defensive units were consistently among the best in the NFL, ranking in the top 10 in yards allowed 11 times and in points allowed 12 times.
* During his stint as defensive coordinator, Tampa Bay’s defense led the league in points allowed per game (17.5), ranked second in takeaways (293) and yards allowed per game (286.8), third in interceptions (249), and 10th in total sacks (503).
* Kiffin’s defenses achieved numerous milestones in Buccaneers history. In 1999, led by AP Defensive Player of the Year Warren Sapp, the defense held opponents to a franchise-record low of 228 first downs, propelling the team to the NFC Championship Game. In 2000, the defense set another team record with 55 sacks.
* In 2002, Kiffin was honored as the Assistant Coach of the Year by both Football Digest and the Pro Football Writers Association. That year, his defensive unit became the first since the 1985 Chicago Bears to lead the league in points allowed (196), yards allowed per game (252.8), and interceptions (31). The 196 points allowed remain the fewest in a single season in team history and the fifth-fewest in a 16-game season in NFL history.
* Under Kiffin’s leadership, eight different Buccaneers defensive players made a combined 36 Pro Bowl appearances, with six earning All-Pro team recognition. Notably, Derrick Brooks joined Warren Sapp as an AP Defensive Player of the Year following the 2002 season.
Searching around for Monte Kiffin videos in our archives and found some good stuff.
My favorite is at the Super Bowl parade saying "This is unbelievable! All I need is a better driver!" pic.twitter.com/Ngzv1sXpBM
— Evan Closky (@ECloskyWTSP) July 12, 2024
July 11th, 2024 at 8:24 pm
IMO his defenses deserve even more credit because he so rarely had a competent offense on the other side to give his guys a rest. Many times his defense WAS most of our offense.
July 11th, 2024 at 8:40 pm
The Real Bucs Defensive Mastermind.
Showing how yards allowed and points allowed actually correlate over the long term.
July 11th, 2024 at 8:40 pm
Truly an iconic coach in Bucs history and an NFL legend. Not many people can say they had a part in changing NFL history and the landscape on how the game can be played. Kiffen was one of these special individuals who help craft a decade of dominance on defense. As a kid I was never worried when our Defense was on the field and I was always at peace because in the end I knew we had the best players and the coach who helped mold them. Credit to Dundy for setting the foundation and letting Kiffen do what he did best and that was to coach fast, fundamental football. I hope this man and his accomplishments are covered to the max because his defenses stand on the same stage as the Bears, Ravens, Steelers as the most dominant in NFL history. Canton should be home to Coordinators and this man is at the top of the list. RIP coach and condolences to the family.
July 11th, 2024 at 9:02 pm
Such a large part of the Bucs best years.
I loved watching his defenses.
RIP MONTE KIFFIN. may God be with the family
July 11th, 2024 at 9:09 pm
HOF’er as a coordinator – if there was such thing he’d be a 1st ballot inductee.
What a tremendous defensive mind. RIP.
July 11th, 2024 at 9:10 pm
Respect ✊
July 11th, 2024 at 9:17 pm
I loved watching the defenses that Monte was leading, in my opinion he was the best defensive coordinator of all times. I had the pleasure of meeting him several times when he would stop by Jackson’s Bistro in south Tampa on Harbor Island and Coach would stop by for a night cap when the team was playing home games the next day. The team stayed in a hotel close by and he was always very kind to the staff and even talked to a me as I was a security guard at the time and such a huge fan. He will be missed RIP.
July 11th, 2024 at 9:28 pm
THIS REALLY REALLY SUCKS.
How can he be gone.
He’s immortal to me.
July 11th, 2024 at 9:29 pm
Respect ✊
July 11th, 2024 at 9:48 pm
Timing is everything with his experience and the players he had he built a masterpiece. That defense was second to none. They were so dominate they should have won more Lombardis but that is another story.
July 11th, 2024 at 10:01 pm
On the Buc’s website it says, “Earlier this summer, Kiffin received the Hall of Fame’s Award of Excellence in the category of assistant coaches. Kiffin was honored in just the third year of the Award of Excellence program, which is aimed at recognizing significant contributions to the game by those outside of the ranks of players and head coaches. A plaque describing Kiffin’s career accomplishments now resides in a special wing of the Hall of in Canton, Ohio”.
July 11th, 2024 at 10:27 pm
Jall if famer
July 11th, 2024 at 10:50 pm
🎶 🎵 Defense! Defense! Defense! Defense! 🎶 🎵 Hell yeah brother! Rest in peace.
July 11th, 2024 at 11:41 pm
Jeez a 1:6 ratio on interceptions to points allowed in that 2002 season. That stat is insane.
Basically, if you score a touchdown – we’re getting an interception.
Ironic 17 years later Jameis did the same thing.
July 11th, 2024 at 11:52 pm
What Kiffen engineered was truly amazing. The man was ahead of his time with his masterful schemes. He helped Sapp, Brooks, Lynch and Barber earn their gold jackets and without Coach Kiffen, I doubt if the Bucs win a Lombardi in 2002. If defensive coordinators could get a gold jacket, Monte should be the first in line but at least Canton did honor him as Crickett pointed out. RIP coach!
July 12th, 2024 at 4:12 am
Farg.
July 12th, 2024 at 5:38 am
Thank you so much for that wonderful video of Monte moments. So many memories we all have of him. He was a true legend.
July 12th, 2024 at 5:45 am
It seemed like the Kiffin’s defense was scoring a TD every game in the 2002 SB season.
July 12th, 2024 at 6:20 am
The GOAT of BUCS Defense! Very sad to see this..
July 12th, 2024 at 7:46 am
Hey Dave Pear I know we don’t see Eye to Eye but this is one thing I completely agree with you on. Monte Kiffin is my favorite coach of all time, if it wasn’t for him those teams of the late 90’s and 2000’s wouldn’t have won. Kiffin was the back bone. I haven’t missed a game since 95’ and his defense’s were the most entertaining I ever watched. It sucks that he’s gone, I feel like he’s my family.
July 12th, 2024 at 9:22 am
Thanks for the info on Kiffin’s status in the Hall of Fame, Crickett Baker.
July 12th, 2024 at 9:33 am
Legendary coach and a great loss to fans of the Bucs and NFL. His defenses carried the Bucs and he was very accessible to the fans and media. We were lucky to have such fine man leading those late 90’s and early 2000’s great Buc defenses. Sad day for his family, friends and fans.
July 12th, 2024 at 10:12 am
“Please Says:
July 11th, 2024 at 11:41 pm
Jeez a 1:6 ratio on interceptions to points allowed in that 2002 season. That stat is insane.
Basically, if you score a touchdown – we’re getting an interception.
Ironic 17 years later Jameis did the same thing.”
HAHAHAHAHAHA
July 12th, 2024 at 1:24 pm
LOL Please!
July 12th, 2024 at 5:08 pm
Such an incredible coach. I didn’t know him, but from a distance he also seemed like a delightful human.
July 12th, 2024 at 6:06 pm
Best of the Best! RIP
July 12th, 2024 at 6:09 pm
Oh how we long for those tough Defenses Monty K had. They were our calling card. Teams absolutely feared us. We’ve never quite reached the Defensive status Monty had us at. He was the Man. Nobody can take that away from him. RIP sir.
July 13th, 2024 at 9:34 am
Kiffen made the Bucs turn around. You could finally be proud to be a Bucs fan. RIP Monte. You are the greatest Buc.