Robert Livingston leaves Colorado after two years as defensive coordinator

Robert Livingston's tenure as the Colorado Buffaloes' defensive coordinator was a tale of two seasons, overseeing great improvement before a downturn last fall. (Photo by Cristian Blanco/Sko Buffs Sports)

Former Colorado Buffaloes defensive coordinator Robert Livingston has a new home, and it’s not too far from Boulder.

Livingston is heading back to the NFL, joining the Denver Broncos staff as the team’s defensive pass game coordinator.

Before his time at Colorado, Livingston spent 12 seasons in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals, working first as a scout and later as secondary and safeties coach. In his first year, current Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph was Cincinnati’s defensive backs coach, giving the two an existing connection before reuniting in Denver.

At CU, Livingston improved the Buffaloes’ defense from 124th of 133 teams nationally in scoring defense in 2023 to a 42nd-ranked unit in 2024. Colorado allowed 34.8 points per game in 2023, then just 23.1 points per game the next season.

Following that leap, Colorado rewarded Livingston with a two-year contract extension, making him the highest-paid assistant coach in program history. 

While Colorado’s defense took a step back in 2025 following the departure of several starters to the NFL, Livingston’s impact on the program was clear. Coach Deion Sanders promoted linebackers coach Chris Marve to defensive coordinator.

With the Broncos, Livingston will have the opportunity to lead one of the league’s top secondaries, headlined by Defensive Player of the Year-winning cornerback Patrick Surtain II. Denver’s defense led the NFL in sacks for the second consecutive year this past season and finished as the league’s No. 3 scoring defense.

Livingston is no stranger to coaching elite cornerbacks. At Colorado, he oversaw wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter’s Heisman Trophy-winning season in 2024. In an interesting twist, the Broncos are set to face Hunter’s Jacksonville Jaguars this upcoming season, marking the first time the two will share a field on opposing sidelines.

Now in Denver, he will look to continue developing the Broncos’ secondary alongside youngsters such as Ja’Quan McMillian, Kris Abrams-Draine and 2025 first-round pick Jahdae Barron, as he returns to the league where his coaching career took shape.