Reports: Deion Sanders, CU Buffs expected to hire NFL assistant coach to be new defensive coordinator
Deion Sanders wanted an NFL influence on his Colorado defense, and he’s found it.
According to multiple reports, Sanders is expected to hire Cincinnati Bengals assistant coach Robert Livingston to be the Buffaloes’ new defensive coordinator.
This is a 2023 photo of Robert Livingston of the Cincinnati Bengals NFL football team. This image reflects the Cincinnati Bengals active roster as of Thursday, May 11, 2023 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
The deal is reportedly not yet completed, but Livingston is in Boulder meeting with Sanders, and he’s expected to be the new leader of the defense. This would be his first time as a defensive play-caller.
Livingston has spent over a decade in Cincinnati, starting as a scout before becoming an assistant coach in 2015, working primarily with the secondary.
He’s a former free safety at William & Mary and has previous college coaching experience, spending a year at both Furman and Vanderbilt before getting a job with the Bengals.
Livingston coached all-pro Bengals safety Jessie Bates III for multiple years and helped the team advance to Super Bowl 56 in 2022.
It’s taken a few weeks longer than many expected, but Sanders has found his replacement for Charles Kelly, who left after one season at CU to become the co-defensive coordinator at Auburn, his alma mater.
The Buffs ranked 127th out of 130 FBS programs in yards allowed per game in 2023. They were 10th-worst in points allowed per game.
Colorado cornerback Travis Hunter (12) follows a play during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Washington State, Friday, Nov. 17, 2023, in Pullman, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)
CU returns plenty of key defensive personnel for the 2024 season, led by cornerback Travis Hunter and safeties Shilo Sanders and Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig.
Colorado head coach Deion Sanders yells to his team during the first half of an NCAA college football game against UCLA Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
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