“Prayers to you and your family”- College Football World Mourning Lane Kiffin’s Loss

The college football community is grieving the loss of Lane Kiffin’s father Monte Kiffin, a legendary figure whose impact spanned both the NFL and college ranks.

Monte, renowned for his nearly 30-year tenure as an NFL assistant coach, including a pivotal role in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Super Bowl XXXVII victory, passed away at the age of 84 in Oxford, Mississippi.

From his early days as a graduate assistant at Nebraska (1966–1968) to his most recent role as a player personnel analyst at Ole Miss (2020–2023), Monte's seven-decade coaching journey left an indelible mark.

Following this profound loss, tributes poured in on social media. On Thursday morning, Rebels coach Lane Kiffin shared poignant throwback photos with his father, who was a two-time college football national champion:

"My Hero @NCStateFB @Vikings."

Analyst Barrett Sallee offered prayers,

“Prayers to you and your family.”

Outkick.com founder Clay Travis tweeted,

“Sorry for your loss.”

CBS Sports analyst Amy Trask expressed heartfelt condolences.

“Lane - I am really and truly sorry.”

The Athletic's senior writer Nicole Auerbach conveyed sympathy,

“So sorry for your loss. Thinking of you and your family,” she wrote.

Vanderbilt Commodores Coach Jovan Haye remembered Monte as not just a great coach but an exceptional person.

“Sorry for your loss Coach @Lane_Kiffin Your dad was a great coach and an elite human!,” he wrote.

Lane Kiffin’s hero Monte Kiffin's various roles as a coach

Tampa Bay Buccaneers former defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin (left) and former player Mike Alstott (right) react during a press conference. (image credit: IMAGN)

Monte Kiffin began his NFL journey back in 1983 as a linebackers coach for the Green Bay Packers. Over the years, he took on various roles until 2009, when his son Lane became the head coach at Tennessee. Monte joined him in Knoxville as the Vols' defensive coordinator. After Lane moved to USC, Monte followed as the assistant head coach.

In 2013, he returned to the NFL as the defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys.

In 2017, when Lane became the head coach at Florida Atlantic, Monte joined as a defensive assistant.

Monte is best known for his 13-year tenure leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense, where he pioneered the Tampa 2 scheme, a variant of the Cover 2 defense originally developed by Pittsburgh Steelers' Steel Curtain.

Today, Lane Kiffin continues to coach at Ole Miss, while his brother, Chris Kiffin, serves as the linebackers coach for the Houston Texans.