Monte Kiffin Ring of Honor Induction

I had the pleasure to have interviewed former Bucs Defensive Coordinator Monte Kiffin several times during his first 2 years calling the defensive shots in Tampa Bay in 1997 & 1998 when I was the Sports Reporter/Anchor at WWSB (ABC) out of Sarasota covering the Bucs.

Monte was always a terrific interview! He told it like it is, never hiding the truth.

One of the greatest defensive minds in the history of the NFL is finally getting his Ring of Honor induction with other legendary Buccaneers players, coaches & owner.

The Bucs plan on celebrating Monte’s induction at Raymond James Stadium on September 19, 2021, versus the Atlanta Falcons.

Kiffin spent 13 seasons as the Bucs Defensive Coordinator from 1997 to 2008.

In that time, he, along with Bucs Head Coach Tony Dungy (1996 – 2001), instilled a defensive mindset that was second to none!

As someone who has covered the Bucs on and off since 1988, I feel that Bucs defense which won Super Bowl XXXVII is the second greatest defense in NFL history behind Pittsburgh’s legendary “Steel Curtain” defense of the 1970s, which was initiated by the Steelers Defensive Coordinator Bud Carson under Head Coach Chuck Noll. The ’85 Bears are third on my list.

Kiffin had absolutely amazing players — Hall of Famers Derrick Brooks, Warren Sapp, and John Lynch, along with Ronde Barber, Simeon Rice, Booger McFarland, Shelton Quarles, among others.

Those players in that defensive unit were the main reason the Bucs won Super Bowl XXXVII.

The man who made them great was Monte Kiffin. It’s a long time coming for him to be inducted into the Bucs Ring of Honor!

I can’t wait to see that actually happen on September 19, as his name will be forever posted along the Bucs Ring of Honor at Raymond James Stadium.