What Tee Martin said about joining Lane Kiffin’s staff, son’s transfer to LSU

Tee Martin planned to take a year off from coaching.

The quarterback from Tennessee’s 1998 national championship team figured some time off could give him a chance to recharge after five seasons on the Baltimore Ravens’ staff. Maybe he would even travel the world.

But in March, just about a month after his tenure with the Ravens ended, his wife was talking with Layla Kiffin, the ex-wife of new LSU football coach Lane Kiffin.

Martin had worked under Kiffin at USC. It wasn’t long before they, too, were talking on the phone.

By the next week Martin was in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, hired as an offensive analyst on Kiffin’s staff.

“It kind of happened really quickly, but I couldn’t stay away from football,” Martin said.

Martin was back in Knoxville on May 23, signing autographs and taking photos with Tennessee fans at the Big Sport Show at the World’s Fair Exhibition Hall. He’ll be back on Nov. 21 when LSU plays Tennessee at Neyland Stadium.

It will also be a return for Kiffin, who spent one season as the Vols’ coach before leaving for USC in 2010.

Kiffin came to Neyland Stadium in 2021 as the coach at Ole Miss. Fans tossed trash onto the field in protest and a golf ball was thrown at Kiffin.

Martin’s family still lives in the Knoxville area. The event gave him a chance to connect with some teammates from the 1998 team, with Jamal Lewis, Jermaine Copeland and Peerless Price also in attendance. Martin also coached at UT under Jeremy Pruitt in 2019-20.

“I’m going to be super emotionally excited,” he said of the LSU vs Tennessee game.

What Tee Martin said about son Kaden Martin transferring to LSU

Martin’s son Kaden will be with him on the sideline this season after committing to LSU as a quarterback transfer from MTSU. Kaden Martin initially focused on baseball in college, playing at Miami in 2022 and ETSU in 2023, and spent the past two years on the MTSU football team. He did not appear in a game.

“He went in the portal as a football player and we found a spot for him on our team,” Martin said. “He’ll be competing and getting better and we’ll see what the future holds for him.”

A long line of Vols fans waited for Martin to sign their memorabilia. Most had old magazines or trading cards commemorating the 1998 team. One even brought a helmet from Martin’s former NFL Europe team, the Rhein Fire from Düsseldorf, Germany.

Martin still tries to keep up with Tennessee football, finding time to watch a few games last year. He expects coach Josh Heupel’s team to have another strong season offensively even as it navigates a preseason quarterback battle.

He hopes both teams will be in playoff contention when LSU comes to town.

“You know, we come here in November, but I always pull for the Vols and wish them success,” Martin said.

Emmett Siegel covers Tennessee baseball for Knox News. Email: emmett.siegel@knoxnews.com; X: @EmmettSiegel_