Sports

Here’s the advice Lane Kiffin received from former USC boss Pete Carroll before LSU move

Published

1 month ago

December 1, 2025

Here’s the advice Lane Kiffin received from former USC boss Pete Carroll before LSU move

Lane Kiffin has left Mississippi to become the new coach at Louisiana State. But not before getting some key advice from his former USC boss, he has revealed. Key advice that also came indirectly from his late father.

More than two decades ago, Kiffin helped USC win two national championships as an assistant coach under Pete Carroll.

And long before that, Carroll and Kiffin’s father, renowned defensive coach Monte Kiffin, worked together on several coaching staffs at the college and NFL levels.

Kiffin has said that he wished his father, who died last year at age 84, was around to advise him as he struggled with the decision over his latest career move.

On Sunday just before boarding a private jet from Oxford, Miss., to Baton Rogue, La., Kiffin said he ended up receiving that fatherly advice from his former mentor, current Las Vegas Raiders coach Carroll.

“Coach Carroll said, ‘Your dad would tell you to go, man, take the shot,’” Kiffin said to ESPN’s Marty Smith. “‘Take the shot. You accomplished a lot here.’”

Kiffin was 55-19 in six seasons at Ole Miss, including an 11-1 record and an expected invite to the College Football Playoff this season. While Kiffin has said he had hoped to continue coaching the Rebels in the postseason, defensive coordinator Pete Golding will serve as head coach going forward.

Carroll and Monte Kiffin were both members of the Arkansas coaching staff in 1977 (two years after Lane Kiffin was born) — Carroll as a graduate assistant and the elder Kiffin as defensive coordinator. Monte Kiffin’s only head coaching job was at North Carolina State from 1980 to 1982, and Carroll was his defensive coordinator all three seasons.

Their careers would cross paths from 1984 to 1990 on the coaching staffs of the Buffalo Bills, Minnesota Vikings and New York Jets. One of the architects of the successful “Tampa 2 defense,” Monte Kiffin achieved his greatest notoriety as defensive coordinator of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1996 to 2008, winning a Super Bowl following the 2002 season.

“Of all the great coaches I have worked with, none would have a more fundamental impact on the tactical side of my coaching than Monte Kiffin,” Carroll wrote in his 2010 book, “Win Forever.”

Carroll added: “His great contribution to my career, however, came early on — long before I ever entered the NFL— when he impressed upon me a simple but powerful belief: ‘In order to be successful, you must have a consistent philosophy. If you change who you are from year to year,’” he explained, ‘you’re never going to be great at anything.’”

Monte Kiffin, left, served as son Lane Kiffin’s defensive coordinator at USC from 2010 to 2012.

(Allen Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

In his first season as USC coach in 2001, Carroll hired Lane Kiffin as his tight ends coach. Kiffin was promoted to receivers coach in 2002 and eventually had passing game coordinator, recruiting coordinator and offensive coordinator added to his duties before leaving after the 2006 season.

After two seasons as head coach of the Oakland Raiders and one as head coach at Tennessee, Kiffin returned to USC to replace Carroll, who had taken the job as coach of the Seattle Seahawks. Kiffin was 28-15 with the Trojans. He was fired five games into his fourth season, hours after a lopsided loss to Arizona State.

Kiffin went on to become an assistant on coach Nick Saban‘s staff at Alabama before head coaching stints at Florida Atlantic and Mississippi. On many of his coaching stops, Kiffin hired his father as part of his staff, including at Tennessee and USC as defensive coordinator, Florida Atlantic as a defensive assistant and Mississippi as a player personnel analyst.

On Saturday, as he weighed his options between Mississippi and LSU, Kiffin took to X and posted a photo featuring a sketch of his father giving a thumbs-up sign.

“Wish I could hug you right now and you could guide me,” Kiffin wrote to his dad. “Love ya.”

In a way, Monte Kiffin did end up providing guidance. Kiffin told Smith that he thought back to his father’s funeral and all the people that reached out “from around all those different spots — N.C. State, all the different spots he coached.”

“They said he was able to impact them and how much that meant to them,” Kiffin said. “And so I’ve really strived since that day to really try to impact people and help people through life, through my journey. So I just prayed a lot and made a family decision and hopefully get a chance to go, you know, impact a whole new set of people.”

Sports

Texans defense suffocates Aaron Rodgers, Steelers in playoff win

Published

3 hours ago

January 13, 2026

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Texans defense suffocates Aaron Rodgers, Steelers in playoff win

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Crunch.

That was the sound of Houston Texans players colliding with Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers early in the fourth quarter of their Wild Card Round matchup, causing him to lose the ball. Texans defensive lineman Sheldon Rankins picked the ball up and ran it to the end zone for what felt like the knockout blow even though there was still a lot of time left to play.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) loses possession of the ball while being tackled by Houston Texans defensive end Danielle Hunter (55) during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Justin Berl)

It was that type of game for both teams – a defensive struggle – as Houston put together a 30-6 victory. It was the franchise’s first road playoff victory.

There were big hits and little room for error. Houston had a 7-6 lead at halftime thanks to a touchdown pass from C.J. Stroud to Christian Kirk.

Even as the Texans turned the ball over three times between the first half and the third quarter, the Steelers could only muster up three points. Houston’s defensive prowess was on display on each snap as Rodgers was left with little to no time to make a decision.

When he did have time to throw, wide receivers like DK Metcalf, Jonnu Smith and Calvin Austin III either dropped the ball or were just a hair off. Rodgers also had a few of his passes deflected.

Houston Texans wide receiver Christian Kirk (13) runs to the end zone for a touchdown while defended by Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Brandin Echols (26) during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Justin Berl)

BEARS’ BEN JOHNSON POURS GASOLINE ON PACKERS RIVALRY: ‘I JUST DON’T LIKE THAT TEAM’

Steelers fans let the team hear it with plenty of boos. Pittsburgh extended its playoff losing streak to seven games.

Texans running back Woody Marks ran for 100 yards for the first time in his career and scored a touchdown to really seal the win. Texans defensive back Calen Bullock returned an interception for a touchdown late in the game.

Stroud finished 21-of-32 with 250 passing yards and the touchdown pass. The Texans’ defense sacked Rodgers four times. Rankins was good for 1.5 sacks.

The Steelers almost had no offense throughout the game. The team was held to 175 yards and outscored 23-0 in the fourth quarter.

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud throws during the first half of NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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Houston will take on the New England Patriots in the AFC Divisional Round.

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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

Sports

Luka Doncic scores 42 points, but poor defense dooms Lakers in loss to Kings

Published

4 hours ago

January 13, 2026

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Luka Doncic scores 42 points, but poor defense dooms Lakers in loss to Kings

SACRAMENTO — Lakers coach JJ Redick was asked before Monday’s game against the Sacramento Kings how he could ensure his players wouldn’t underestimate a nine-win team.

“We don’t look at any game as a walkover,” Redick said.

Then the Kings walked all over the Lakers, taking a 20-point lead in the third quarter before winning 124-112 at Golden 1 Center.

Luka Doncic did his best to keep the Lakers in the game, scoring 42 points and collecting eight assists and seven rebounds. But he scored just two points in the fourth quarter and looked slower after having his left thigh wrapped at the end of the third quarter.

The Lakers got to within seven points in the fourth, but the Kings pulled away. DeMar DeRozan scored 32 points and Russell Westbrook finished with 22 points and seven assists for the Kings (10-30), who shot 59% from the field (48-82) and made 17 three-pointers.

LeBron James, who scored 22 points, wore a patch on his jersey commemorating his unprecedented 23rd NBA season in the city where he played his first NBA game. It features a silhouette of his pregame chalk toss and three colored stripes that represents the three franchises he has played on — the Lakers, Cavaliers and Heat.

He will wear the patch for the remainder of the season. After each game, the patch will be removed from his jersey, dated and shipped to a Topps’ production facility to be authenticated and inserted into a pack of trading cards.

LeBron James wears a special patch on his jersey commemorating his unprecedented 23rd NBA season.

(Justine Willard / Associated Press)

The Lakers (23-14) looked strong from the onset when Deandre Ayton won the jump ball and eventually threw a lob pass to James for a 2-0 Lakers lead, a play that has become something the Lakers have used several times to start a game.

James hit his first four shots and the Lakers took an 8-2 lead before everything started to crumble.

They were behind 59-43 late in the second quarter. They couldn’t stop Malik Monk, who had 18 points off the bench on six-for-eight shooting, including five for six from three-point range. Monk finished with 26 points.

After the hot start, James finished the first half going five for 12 from the field for 12 points. He finished the game shooting eight for 17.

Lakers star LeBron James, right, drives against Sacramento Kings forward Precious Achiuwa.

The Lakers will play the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. When the Lakers played a back-to-back game last week, James sat out the second game. Will he do the same Tuesday?

“We’ll see how he feels in the morning,” Redick said.

Perhaps Rui Hachimura will make his return from right calf soreness. He was available to play Monday, but he sat out his seventh consecutive game.

Sports

LSU, Lane Kiffin set to land star quarterback in transfer portal: report

Published

15 hours ago

January 12, 2026

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LSU, Lane Kiffin set to land star quarterback in transfer portal: report

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LSU Tigers football is reportedly set to land a coveted transfer on Monday to start Lane Kiffin’s tenure as head coach.

Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt will likely transfer to the Tigers and play in Baton Rouge next season, ESPN reported. Leavitt is one of the top quarterbacks in the transfer portal and reportedly visited Miami and Kentucky en route to his decision.

ASU Sun Devils quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) scrambles away from Houston Cougars defensive lineman Eddie Walls III (90) at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe on Oct. 25, 2025. (Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier graduated following the 2025 season and Michael Van Buren transferred to South Florida upon Kiffin’s arrival at LSU from Ole Miss. LSU was reportedly also targeting Washington’s Desmond Williams Jr. before he chose to stay with the Huskies.

Leavitt initially transferred from Michigan State to Arizona State following his freshman season in 2023. He became a star under Kenny Dillingham’s tutelage and had the Sun Devils in the College Football Playoff in 2024, only losing to the Texas Longhorns by eight points in the first round.

He only played in seven games in 2025, throwing for 1,628 yards and 10 touchdowns before he suffered a foot injury that required season-ending surgery.

TOP QUARTERBACK IN TRANSFER PORTAL CHOOSES TO PLAY FOR OREGON

Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Mountain America Stadium on Oct. 18, 2025. (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)

Upon Leavitt’s decision to enter the transfer portal, Dillingham had warm words for him.

“Big 12 champ, put his name on the map, smart/talented player! Going to succeed wherever he goes,” Dillingham wrote on X in December.

LSU had high expectations for the 2025 season. But the team was only able to muster seven wins. The team fired Brian Kelly in the middle of the year.

LSU head coach Lane Kiffin, left, stands next to Louisiana State Tigers athletic director Verge Ausberry, right, prior to the game against the Houston Cougars at NRG Stadium on Dec. 27, 2025. (Maria Lysaker/Imagn Images)

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Kiffin joined LSU after Ole Miss won its Egg Bowl rivalry game against Mississippi State. The Rebels made the College Football Playoff and got to the semifinals.

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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.