Deion Sanders plans to bring on Bengals assistant Rob Livingston as defensive coordinator

Deion Sanders, also known as “Coach Prime,” has made a major move in his coaching staff by bringing on Bengals assistant Rob Livingston as the defensive coordinator for the Colorado football team. Multiple reports suggest that Livingston will be taking over the vacant position in 2024.

Livingston has an extensive background in coaching, having spent the last eight seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals in various defensive roles. Prior to that, he worked as a scout for the team from 2012 to 2014. During his time with the Bengals, the team achieved impressive rankings in pass defense, being ranked third in the NFL in pass touchdowns allowed in 2022 and eighth in interceptions this past season. Despite their solid performance, the Bengals missed out on a postseason appearance with a 9-8 record.

For Livingston, his move to Colorado will mark a return to the college ranks. Before joining the Bengals, he served as a defensive quality control coach at Vanderbilt in 2011 and spent one season as a defensive coach for Furman in 2010. With his diverse coaching experience, Livingston brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Colorado defense.

The decision to hire Livingston came after the departure of Charles Kelly in December. Kelly left to take on a co-defensive coordinator position at Auburn. Kelly had joined Sanders’ staff before the previous season after leaving Alabama. The Colorado defense faced significant challenges last season, ranking as the second-worst defense in the Pac-12 in yards per game and third-worst in points allowed per game. With Livingston’s NFL coaching experience and track record, Sanders hopes to turn around the team’s defensive performance.

Sanders has made it clear that he values experience coaching in the NFL when it comes to his coaching staff. In 2023, he brought on former Giants head coach Pat Shurmur as the program’s offensive coordinator. Shurmur’s addition proved to be successful, as he took over offensive play-calling midseason and made a significant impact. Sanders hopes to replicate that success on the defensive side of the ball with Livingston.

Colorado has been actively working to fill out its coaching staff since the offseason started. In December, they hired Jason Phillips as a receivers coach and Phil Loadholt as an offensive line coach. Vincent Dancy was also promoted to the position of defensive ends coach. These coaching changes come as the team prepares to make the switch to the Big 12 for the 2024 season.

With the addition of Rob Livingston as the defensive coordinator, Colorado football fans can expect an experienced and knowledgeable coach leading their defense. Livingston’s background in both the NFL and college football will bring a fresh perspective and strategy to the team. As Coach Prime continues to build his staff, it’s clear that he is focused on assembling a strong team of coaches who can guide Colorado to success in the upcoming season.