While Matt Rhule has been working hard to return the Nebraska football program to its glory days since he arrived in Lincoln, Husker fans were reminded of what those glory days entailed earlier this week. One of the original great ones was honored for his long and impressive career.
Monte Kiffin was one of the coaches that Husker legend Tom Osborne worked with when he took over the helm. In fact, the legendary defensive coordinator started his career with Nebraska and then vaulted to an NFL career that allowed him to be honored with a Hall of Fame’s Award of Excellence for his career as a defensive coordinator in the NFL.
Monte Kiffin coached in the NFL from 1983 to 2016, after first coaching as a grad assistant and then defensive coordinator with the Nebraska football team from 1966 to 1976.
In the pros, Kiffin made numerous stops across the league. However, where really rose to greatness is when he was the defensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers between 1996 and 2008.
Nebraska football legend honored by NFL Hall of Fame
Monte Kiffin is, of course, also the father of Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin and it was the Rebels coach who brought the honoring of his father to light on social media.
“What an amazing accomplishment and career!!” he wrote on social media. “Congratulations Dad.”
Alongside the post he included a picture of the a large portion of the Kiffin clan huddled around the patriarch of the family, holding his award.
Monte Kiffin, who also played for Nebraska from 1959 to 1963 as a defensive and offensive lineman, really made his bones by being the architect of the “Tampa 2” defensive scheme. That’s a scheme that has been tweaked and adjusted over the years, but is still one of the most feared defensive bases in the NFL.