Former football coach Monte Kiffin, whose Tampa Bay defenses routinely ranked among the league’s best, has died at age of 84.He was the mastermind of what would become known as the “Tampa-2” defense. Kiffin worked for 13 seasons in the NFL under Tony Dungy and Jon Gruden and helped the franchise win its first Super Bowl.
He was the father of long-time collegiate coach Lane Kiffin, and had even coached as an assistant with his son. He was also responsible for attracting current Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin to Tampa Bay at the age of 29. Earlier this year, Kiffin was honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame through their Awards for Excellence program, which recognizes those who have made significant contributions to the game.