Bucs defense chief to join son at Tennesse

Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin is joining his son at the University of Tennessee.

Lane Kiffin was introduced as Tennessee’s new head football coach previously this month.

I think we all respect his situation, we have tremendous respect for him, said Tampa Bay Coach Jon Gruden. We had a pretty good indication that he was going to join his son.

Kiffin leaves the Buccaneers after joining the Tampa Bay staff for the 1996 season and building one of the best defenses in the NFL. The Buccaneers have finished in the NFL’s top 10 in fewest points allowed in 11 of the 12 seasons Kiffin has been defensive coordinator and have also allowed the fewest points (3,003) in the NFL since 1997.

The Bucs have given up the fifth-least amount of points through 14 games this season.

Kiffin first joined the NFL coaching ranks in 1983 as the linebackers coach for the Green Bay Packers. Kiffin has also coached with Buffalo, Minnesota, the New York Jets and New Orleans.