If Lane Kiffin is going to survive at USC, he’ll have to do it without the help of his father.
The school has announced via Twitter that Monte Kiffin will be leaving the Trojans after the team’s bowl game to pursue opportunities in the NFL.
Previously, the elder Kiffin’s name had been floated as a possible candidate for a consulting job in Seattle, given his connection to Seahawks coach Pete Carroll.
But we’re more intrigued by the possibility that Kiffin could be reunited Jon Gruden. With Kiffin running the defense and Gruden running the offense, the Bucs won a Super Bowl 10 years ago. Kiffin then remained with Gruden for six more years, even though Gruden had inherited Kiffin from Tony Dungy’s staff.
Kiffin, 72, may not want to be a defensive coordinator at the NFL level again. But the man who spent 25 seasons as an NFL assistant coach definitely brings something to the table.
The only question is where that table will be.