The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced today that former Buccaneers defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin and former video director Dave Levy will be among the group of 15 recipients honored with the 2024 Awards of Excellence June 26-27 in Canton, Ohio.
The Awards of Excellence program was launched in 2022 to recognize individuals in various roles who have helped drive the accomplishments of their profession and who have made significant contributions to the game of football. The five categories for which the awards are given are: assistant coaches, athletic trainers, equipment managers, film/video directors and public relations personnel. Kiffin and Levy's contributions will be commemorated with a plaque detailing their career accomplishments in a section of the Hall of Fame.
Kiffin ranks as the longest-tenured coach in Buccaneers franchise history, having spent 13 seasons with the organization from 1996-2008 under head coaches Tony Dungy (1996-2001) and Jon Gruden (2002-08). He joined Dungy's coaching staff as defensive coordinator in 1996 and immediately began the process of overhauling the Buccaneers' defense. Working alongside Dungy, he helped create and implement the 'Tampa 2' defensive scheme that eventually propelled the Buccaneers to their victory in Super Bowl XXXVII. During Kiffin's 13 seasons leading Tampa Bay's defense, the unit ranked in the top 10 in yards allowed 11 times and in points allowed 12 times. During that same 13-year span, the defense led the league in points allowed per game (17.5), ranked second in takeaways (293) and yards allowed per game (286.8), third in interceptions (249) and 10th in total sacks (503).
"Monte Kiffin led the Tampa Two defense that became the signature identity of our team in the late '90s and eventually propelled us to our first Super Bowl championship," said Buccaneers Co-Owner Bryan Glazer. "It wasMonte's coaching, leadership and ability to maximize the strengths of his players that elevated that defense to one of the most feared units of its time. Congratulations to Monte and the entire Kiffin family on this extremely well-deserved honor."
Kiffin's units are among the most accomplished in team history, featuring four longtime Buccaneers who already reside in the Pro Football Hall of Fame: Rondé Barber, Derrick Brooks, John Lynch and Warren Sapp. Under hisleadership, eight different Buccaneers defensive players made a combined 36 Pro Bowl appearances, while six also earned All-Pro team recognition. In addition, Sapp (1999) and Brooks (2002) each earned an Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year award under Kiffin's direction.
In 2002, Kiffin was named the Assistant Coach of the Year by both Football Digest and the Pro Football Writers Association after his defensive unit became the first since the 1985 Chicago Bears to lead the league in points allowed (196), yards allowed per game (252.8) and interceptions (31). The 196 points allowed remains the fewest in a single season in team history and the fifth-fewest allowed in a 16-game season in NFL history. For his unprecedented career achievements, Kiffin became the first assistant coach in team history to be inducted into the Buccaneers Ring of Honor in 2021.
Levy put forth an admirable 29-year career as the video director for the Buccaneers, beginning in 1988 and concluding in 2016. Handling all video and film-related responsibilities during his nearly three decades with the team, Levy kept Tampa Bay at the forefront of a constantly evolving industry and its ever-changing technology.
"During his 29 years of service, Dave Levy distinguished himself as a leader amongst his peers and a very valuable member of our football operations staff," said Glazer. "We are thrilled that Dave's unrivaled work ethic and selfless commitment to our coaches and players has been recognized by the Pro Football Hall of Fame as just the second team video director to receive this outstanding career acknowledgement."
Levy also served as the Buccaneers trusted representative at the NFL draft throughout his time in Tampa Bay and played a vital part in the creation and design of One Buccaneer Place – the Buccaneers training facility which opened in 2006 and remains the team's headquarters to this day.
He got his start in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers at just 12 years old by way of fellow 2024 Awards of Excellence honoree, Bob McCartney – the father of Tampa Bay Buccaneers Director of Player Personnel, Rob McCartney. Levy later took over in Tampa Bay in 1988, at age 20, becoming what is believed to be the youngest NFL video director in league history.
He would go on to head the team's video efforts for nine different head coaches throughout his career, while impacting the lives of many other assistant coaches, players and staff along the way.
The film and video category was added to the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Awards of Excellence in 2023, meaning Levy and his mentor, McCartney, will enter Canton among just the second Hall of Fame class for their profession.
-BUCCANEERS-
