Shortly before the start of 2024 SEC Media Days, OIe Miss head coach Lane Kiffin experienced something much bigger than football in the passing of his late father, Monte Kiffin.

And that's what the Ole Miss head coach addressed far before talking about anything on the gridiron when he took the podium in Dallas, Texas.

To Kiffin, his father could only be described as a "superhero" in way that goes beyond his countless accomplishments in the world of football.

That includes Monte Kiffin's creation of the famous Tampa 2 defensive scheme and him helping guide the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to their first Super Bowl victory in 2002.

“Hero is not really the right term for him. It’s superhero. It’s what he was to the people that he touched,” Kiffin said. “I feel like there’s very few superheroes and very few great ones that loved everyone and tried to help everyone they came in touch with forever. Whether you were big or small, whoever you were, he tried to help.”

For Lane Kiffin, just being there and continuing to push through was something that meant a lot for him making an appearance at SEC Media Days this year in the midst of such a trying time.

“He never wanted anybody to have a bad day or be sad, so [being at SEC Media Days] is me trying to do that,” Kiffin said. “First rule of getting better is you got to show up. Show up and do your job. That’s what I’m trying to do here.”

Monte Kiffin coached in both the NFL and the collegiate ranks for over five decades, including at Ole Miss with his son. He had been a defensive analyst for the Rebels since 2020.

With his Monte Kiffin was on the staff, Lane Kiffin and his team achieved an 11-2 overall record and a 6-2 record in SEC play for the 2023 season. Ole Miss capped it all off with a victory over No. 10 Penn State, 38-25 in the Peach Bowl.