Deion Sanders and Colorado are reportedly on the verge of appointing Robert Livingston, a current assistant with the Cincinnati Bengals, as their new defensive coordinator.
Colorado is poised to bring in Robert Livingston, currently the safeties coach for the Cincinnati Bengals, as their new defensive coordinator, according to reports from 247Sports. Livingston will step into the role previously held by Charles Kelly, who departed for Auburn after one season under head coach Deion Sanders in Boulder, Colorado.
Livingston brings nine seasons of experience with the Bengals to the table. His primary task will be revitalizing a struggling Colorado defense that ranked 124th out of 133 FBS teams, allowing an average of 34.8 points per game during Sanders’ first season.
Despite the Buffaloes’ defensive struggles, there’s optimism surrounding Livingston’s ability to make a quick impact based on his successful tenure in Cincinnati. In 2022, he played a hands-on role in coaching a Bengals secondary that allowed the third-fewest passing touchdowns in the NFL and reached the AFC Championship Game. Moreover, the Bengals recorded 17 interceptions during the 2023 season, ranking eighth in the league.
Prior to joining the Bengals, Livingston had limited experience in college coaching. He spent the 2010 season at Furman, primarily focusing on coaching safeties, before moving to Vanderbilt as a defensive quality control coach in 2011.
The appointment of Livingston is part of a broader staff overhaul as Colorado prepares to return to the Big 12 this summer. Following Sean Lewis’ departure to San Diego State, Pat Shurmur was promoted to offensive coordinator, having already assumed play-calling responsibilities late in the 2023 season during the Buffaloes’ struggles.
