Few college football programs have had to replace as many assistant coaches as Colorado has had to this off season.
Now, Deion Sanders is set to have to replace a coordinator on his staff in Boulder as well.
Multiple reports, starting with ESPN's Adam Schefter, share this afternoon that Sean Payton and the Broncos are hiring Colorado defensive coordinator Robert Livingston as their defensive pass game coordinator.
The move reunites Livingston with Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, who he had previously worked with as part of the Bengals staff.
Prime hired Livingston away from his post as the safeties coach for the Bengals heading into the 2024 season.
From Livingston's Colorado bio:
In his first season in Boulder, the Buffs defense dramatically improved, which was a key factor in the Buffs improving from 4-8 in the first season in Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders to 9-4 and within a game of the Big 12 Championship and possible College Football Playoff berth in 2024.
The improvement of the defense under Livingston was dramatic, as the Buffaloes allowed 11.7 fewer points per game, 101.4 fewer yards per game and increased its big play abilities by producing 12 more sacks, 28 more tackles for loss, 27 more quarterback hurries, 18 more pass breakups, five more interceptions and two more fumble recoveries than the previous season at CU.
The defense improved from 121st in scoring defense to 43rd, 124th in passing yards allowed per game to 40th, and from 64th in sacks to 15th, also leading the Big 12. The Buffs were especially impressive in the second half on defense, allowing just 11.5 points per game, a top 10 mark nationally while leading the Big 12. The 2025 squad was also solid against the pass, ranking 41st nationally in passing yards allowed (203.2) and 56th in red zone defense.
Helping Livingston in that turnaround was Travis Hunter having one of the best seasons in college football history. A lockdown cornerback, he was targeted the fewest amount of times in the FBS, around 10 percent, and in those 43 targets he had 11 pass breakups and four interceptions to rank among the league’s and nation’s leaders. He won the Heisman Trophy and was the consensus Defensive Player of the Year before being selected with the No. 2 pick in the NFL Draft. All this while also playing more than 90 percent of CU’s offensive snaps, as well.
ESPN shares that Chris Marve, who had previously served as defensive coordinator at Virginia Tech and joined the program earlier this off season as linebackers coach, is being promoted to fill the opening.
The move marks the latest chapter of a staff reset this off season following a disappointing 3-9 finish.
On offense, offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur is no longer with the team, Marshall Faulk left the running backs job to become the head coach at Southern (FCS) after one season, and longtime Prime assistant Bret Bartolone (who served as Prime's offensive coordinator at Jacksonville State, but was twice passed up for the offensive coordinator opportunity with the Buffs) left for the Nevada offensive coordinator opportunity. That's just to name a few, as the entire offensive staff has seen significant changes. On defense, Domata Peko left his post coaching the defensive line to take the Steelers defensive line job.
Prime reloaded with some impressive hires in bringing in Brennan Marion as the new offensive coordinator, former Gainesville HS (GA) head coach Josh Niblett to coach the tight ends, as well as a host of other additions.
Stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.