It’s been a decade, but for Lane Kiffin, the sting of that night at LAX still lingers. Every coach has a defining moment—the one that tests their resolve, reshapes their reputation, and leaves a permanent mark on their career. For Kiffin, that moment came in the early hours of September 29, 2013. It was the kind of scene you might expect in a gritty sports drama—a head coach pulled off the team bus, alone in the dead of night, and fired on the spot. The place? An airport tarmac. And the timing was brutal too.
“It was a dream job for as long as I can remember to be a major college football coach so you could be somewhere forever, like the Bobby Bowden thing,” Kiffin once said. But that night, it felt like the dream had turned into a nightmare.
The tarmac firing that changed it all
Lane Kiffin’s rise through the coaching ranks was nothing short of meteoric. He started at USC in 2001 as a young assistant under Pete Carroll, quickly climbing the ladder to offensive coordinator by 2005. By 31, he was the head coach of the Oakland Raiders, the youngest in NFL history at the time. But the higher you rise, the harder you fall, and Kiffin’s journey has had its fair share of hard landings.
When Al Davis fired him from the Raiders after just 20 games, it was public and personal. Davis famously called Kiffin a “disgrace to the organization” in a press conference complete with an overhead projector, a moment that’s since become NFL folklore. But the drama didn’t end there.
After a brief but tumultuous stint at Tennessee, Kiffin returned to USC in 2010, this time as the head coach, stepping into the shadow of his mentor, Pete Carroll, just as the Trojans were hit with crippling NCAA sanctions over the Reggie Bush scandal. Two years of bowl bans and 30 lost scholarships were a heavy weight for any program, and Kiffin had to carry it from day one.
But it was that night in 2013 that cemented his place in college football lore. After a brutal 62-41 loss to Arizona State, USC’s team plane touched down at LAX. Kiffin was pulled off the bus by then-AD Pat Haden and fired on the spot in a small room near the terminal. Adding to the unusual circumstances, an X user posted, “If just waking up, Lane Kiffin told bus driver to wait for him. #USC told bus to leave without him and go back to campus.” Kiffin never stepped foot on the Trojans’ sideline again. It was a shocking, cold-hearted exit that still resonates in the sport today.
Yet, looking back, that moment was less an end and more a brutal rebirth. For Kiffin, it was the spark that ignited his second act—a journey from outcast to offensive guru. From cautionary tale to Ole Miss savior.
USC is in the hot seat over Lane Kiffin’s firing
Since taking over at Ole Miss in 2020, Kiffin has rewritten his legacy. He’s turned the Rebels into a team that’s always in the mix, known for scoring a ton and never stopping on the recruiting trail. By 2024, he had a 105-52 career record, including a 44-18 run at Ole Miss, with multiple New Year’s Six appearances and a growing list of NFL-bound players. With eight Rebels hearing their names called in the 2025 draft, plus another dozen undrafted free agents, it’s clear Kiffin knows how to find and build pro talent. He’s proven that, while the past can haunt you, it doesn’t have to define you. The Lane Train is rolling strong, and his success in Oxford has only fueled the fire of his redemption arc.
One Ole Miss supporter put it bluntly, pointing to Kiffin’s success: “All the more reasons to hate USC.” Even with all the talk and outside noise, the Trojans just finished a 7-6 season, while Kiffin’s Rebels are coming off a strong 10-3 run. So, for Kiffin’s supporters, this is definitely a reason to hold their heads high. It just goes to show that for everyone doubting him, there’s a fan seeing his success as proof that second chances can really pay off.
Another fan reflected on Kiffin’s impact in Oxford, noting his ability to turn setbacks into fuel: “Thank you USC you created a monster.” It’s a nod to Kiffin’s transformation from tarmac casualty to SEC powerhouse.
NCAA, College League, USA Football: Texas A&M at Mississippi Nov 4, 2023 Oxford, Mississippi, USA Mississippi Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin reacts after a touchdown during the second half against the Texas A&M Aggies at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Oxford Vaught-Hemingway Stadium Mississippi USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xPetrexThomasx 20231104_ams_in1_0091
And for those who saw the whole saga as a wild yet inspiring comeback, one fan summed it up best: “And I thank them for that, cause he then got to help uplift our program love ya lane.” For many in Oxford, Kiffin’s path to redemption has made him more than just a coach—it’s made him a symbol of resilience.
Finally, one proud Rebel declared: “Lane Kiffin is my favorite coach in the game. Hands down.” That kind of die-hard support only comes from a fanbase that’s been through it all with Kiffin, from his sarcastic NCAA takes to everything college football.
Kiffin’s coaching journey has taken him through USC, Tennessee, Alabama, and Florida Atlantic, where he captured two Conference USA titles. But it was his fiery exit from USC that truly defined his career. The drama of his departure made waves, yet Kiffin bounced back stronger, continuing to carve his legacy in the game. Now? Kiffin’s daughter Presley is a volleyball star for the Trojans. And it looks like Lane Kiffin is settled in at Ole Miss for the long haul, finding his “somewhere forever” as his program really picks up speed with the goal of becoming a powerhouse for years to come. That climb to the top might’ve been bumpy, but it’s a journey he’s clearly all in on.
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