The Denver Broncos have added staff without leaving the state, hiring Colorado Buffaloes defensive coordinator Robert Livingston to be defensive passing game coordinator and primary defensive backs coach, ESPN reported on Wednesday.

Livingston, 40, replaces Jim Leonhard, who left Denver earlier this month to be the Buffalo Bills’ defensive coordinator.

It’s a return to the NFL after two years with the Buffaloes for Livingston, who spent nine seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals (2015-23), eight as secondary coach. Livingston was a scout and then a special teams assistant with the Bengals in 2014 and 2015 when current Broncos DC Vance Joseph was Cincinnati’s defensive backs coach.

Colorado made dramatic improvement in 2024 in its first season Livingston worked under head coach Deion Sanders. The Buffaloes jumped from 121st in scoring defense in 2023 to 43rd in 2024, allowing 23.1 points as well as 351.9 yards per game while finishing 9-4 (7-2 Big 12).

Last season, however, after the team lost Heisman Trophy winning receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter, safety Shilo Sanders, quarterback Shedeur Sanders and other starters to the NFL, Colorado went 3-9 (1-8). The Buffaloes yielded 30.5 points (111th) and 425.7 yards (121st) per game.

ESPN reported that Colorado linebackers coach Chris Marve will be the school’s new defensive coordinator.

–Field Level Media