Robert Livingston Interviewed by Cowboys as NFL Interest Builds in Colorado DC
Robert Livingston might be on the move again - and this time, the NFL is calling.
The Colorado defensive coordinator, who has spent the last two seasons leading the Buffs’ defense, was one of three coaches who had in-person interviews with the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer. The Cowboys, fresh off hiring Christian Parker as their new defensive coordinator, are now working to round out the rest of their defensive staff. Livingston is firmly in that mix.
And it’s not hard to see why.
Livingston, 40, has a deep NFL background, spending 12 years with the Cincinnati Bengals before heading to Boulder. Eight of those seasons were spent coaching the secondary - a position group that’s become increasingly vital in today’s pass-heavy league.
When Deion Sanders brought him on board at Colorado two years ago, it was a significant hire. And in February 2025, CU made it clear they wanted to keep him around, handing Livingston a two-year extension worth $1.55 million annually - the richest assistant coaching deal in program history.
That investment paid off in 2024. Livingston orchestrated one of the most dramatic defensive turnarounds in school history.
With a senior-led unit, the Buffs allowed just 23.1 points per game - sixth-best in the Big 12 - and 351.9 yards per game, ranking eighth in the conference. That may not sound elite on paper, but when you consider where CU was the year before, it’s a massive leap.
In 2023, the Buffs gave up 34.8 points and 453.3 yards per game. That’s a 101.4-yard improvement in total defense - the first time in program history the defense improved by 100 yards or more from one year to the next - and an 11.7-point swing in scoring defense, the biggest jump in nearly four decades.
Livingston’s defense didn’t just bend less - it attacked more. CU led the Big 12 in sacks (39) and tackles for loss (93), while finishing second in takeaways (27). Headlining that group was Travis Hunter, who earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors and played a huge role in the Buffs’ defensive resurgence.
But 2025 brought a different story. Most of those key contributors either graduated or transferred, and the Buffs were left with a rebuilding project.
The drop-off was steep. CU allowed 30.5 points and 425.7 yards per game this past season.
The pass rush all but disappeared - just 13 sacks, tied for 14th in the Big 12 - and the run defense collapsed, giving up 222.5 yards per game, ranking 135th out of 136 FBS teams.
Still, Livingston’s track record - both in the NFL and at the college level - makes him a compelling candidate for a return to the pros. He’s shown he can develop talent, adjust schemes, and lead a turnaround when given the right pieces. And with the Cowboys retooling their defensive staff under Parker, Livingston’s name is one to watch as Dallas looks to build a unit capable of contending in the NFC.
Whether he stays in Boulder or jumps back to the NFL, Livingston’s next move will be one to keep an eye on.