Colorado defensive coordinator Robert Livingston is drawing some interest from the NFL.
On Thursday, Todd Archer, who covers the Dallas Cowboys for ESPN, reported that Livingston was one of three coaches with in-person interviews Thursday for positions with the Cowboys.
Last week, the Cowboys hired former Philadelphia Eagles defensive backs coach Christian Parker as their new defensive coordinator. They are currently in the process of filling out their defensive staff.
Livingston, 40, has spent the past two seasons as the defensive coordinator at CU, hired almost exactly two years ago by Buffs head coach Deion Sanders. On Feb. 7, 2025, CU gave Livingston a two-year contract extension worth an average of $1.55 million per year, making him the highest-paid assistant coach in program history.
Prior to coming to CU, Livingston worked for 12 years with the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals, including eight as a secondary coach.
In 2024, Livingston turned around the Buffs’ defense, led by several seniors. That season, the Buffs were sixth in the Big 12 in scoring defense (allowing 23.1 points per game) and eighth in total defense (allowing 351.9 yards per game).
The previous year, CU gave up 34.8 points and 453.3 yards per game. In 2024, it was the first time in CU history that total defense improved by at least 100 yards (101.4), and the 11.7-point improvement in the scoring defense is the best for a CU team in nearly 40 years (the 1985 team made a 19.1-point improvement).
CU also led the Big 12 in sacks (39) and tackles for loss (93) and finished second with 27 takeaways in 2024, led by Big 12 defensive player of the year Travis Hunter.
The majority of those players graduated or transferred after 2024, however, leaving Livingston and the Buffs to rebuild. This past season, CU allowed 30.5 points and 425.7 yards per game and finished tied for 14th in the Big 12 in sacks (13). The Buffs ranked 135th out of 136 FBS teams in run defense, allowing 222.5 yards per game.
