With Jim Leonhard leaving the Denver Broncos to become the defensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills, the team is filling the defensive pass game coordinator role by bringing in Robert Livingston, another coach with collegiate and professional coaching experience. Here’s more information about Livingston’s coaching resume.
Furman (2010)
Livingston is a native of Hendersonville, North Carolina, and played safety at the College of William and Mary from 2007 to 2009. Shortly after his playing career ended, Furman hired Livingston to be a safeties coach.
Vanderbilt (2011)
After one short season with Furman, Livingston joined Vanderbilt as a defensive quality control coach under James Franklin. In his lone season with Vanderbilt, Livingston worked with Bob Shoop and Brent Pry.
Vanderbilt ran a 4-3 base defense while Livingston was on staff and finished 6-7, but still qualified for the 2011 Liberty Bowl, which they lost 31-24 to Cincinnati.
Cincinnati Bengals (2012-2023)
Livingston’s first shot at working in the NFL came with the Cincinnati Bengals, where he was a scout from 2012 to 2014. The Bengals promoted Livingston to being the team’s defensive quality control and special teams assistant the following season.
The Bengals promoted Livingston again in 2016, elevating him to secondary and safeties coach. Livingston contributed to the Bengals’ 2021 team, which posted a 10-7 record and clinched first place in the AFC North for the first time since 2015.
In that same season, the organization also reached the Super Bowl for the first time since 1988, despite losing 23-20 to the Los Angeles Rams. Livingston played a major role in helping the Bengals rank fifth in rushing defense.
Colorado (2024-2025)
After more than 10 years away from college football, Livingston decided to join Colorado’s staff to be the team’s defensive coordinator under Deion Sanders. During his first season with the Buffaloes, he coached Heisman trophy winner and two-way player Travis Hunter.
The team was 9-4 and made the 2024 Valero Alamo Bowl, which they lost 36-14 to BYU. Livingston’s final season at Colorado proved rough as the team finished 3-9 and second-to-last in the Big 12.
Livingston won’t have to move far, as he’s staying in Colorado, but will now be about 30 minutes southeast of Boulder to coach alongside Vance Joseph. Livingston has a chance to help the Broncos’ defense perform even better than it did in 2025.