The Denver Broncos are making another notable staff move on defense.
NFL insider Adam Schefter reported the Broncos are hiring Colorado defensive coordinator Robert Livingston as their defensive pass game coordinator, a move that also reunites Livingston with Denver defensive coordinator Vance Joseph from their time together on the Cincinnati Bengals’ staff.
For Denver, the timing is interesting: Joseph’s unit just put together a season the organization itself framed as among the league’s best, finishing near the top of multiple major defensive categories. Now, the Broncos are adding a coach whose recent job description has been all about coverage structure, communication, and back-end problem solving.
Broncos News: Adam Schefter reports Denver is hiring Robert Livingston
Schefter’s report is straightforward: Livingston is headed from Boulder to the NFL, joining Sean Payton’s staff as Denver’s defensive pass game coordinator.
The “reunion” part matters, too. Coaching hires often come down to trust and shared language, and Schefter noted Livingston previously worked with Joseph on the Bengals’ staff. That familiarity can speed up installation, especially for a role that lives in the details of route concepts, coverage checks, and weekly matchup plans.
What a defensive pass game coordinator actually does
Titles vary team to team, but the job typically centers on the pass-defense plan:
- Opponent breakdowns: How quarterbacks attack coverages, which route combos show up on money downs, and what formations tip concepts.
- Coverage construction: Helping build the weekly menu (pressures + coverages that marry together), and identifying the “must-have” checks vs. certain looks.
- DB communication: Getting the back end aligned pre-snap, especially against motion, stacks/bunches, and condensed splits that create rubs and leverage issues.
In other words: this isn’t just an “extra assistant.” It’s a role built to help a defense win on third down, in the red zone, and in two-minute situations, where pass-game details decide games.
Why this hire fits Denver’s 2026 defensive direction
Denver doesn’t make this move because the defense was broken. If anything, the Broncos’ own team site highlighted Joseph’s group as elite in 2025, second in total defense, third in scoring defense, and first in red-zone defense, among other benchmarks.
So why add Livingston?
Because sustaining a top defense is harder than building one, especially once opponents have a full season of cut-ups on your tendencies. Adding Livingston gives Joseph another experienced set of eyes to self-scout the coverage plan, tweak answers to opponent counters, and keep the back end clean.
There’s also the practical benefit: Livingston has lived in NFL defensive meetings for a long time. Colorado’s staff directory notes he joined the Buffaloes in February 2024 after spending more than a decade with the Cincinnati Bengals in multiple roles. That background is directly relevant to the weekly grind Denver is preparing for.
Broncos Rumors: What This Hire Could Signal About Denver’s Defensive Plans in 2026
Whenever coaching moves hit, Broncos rumors usually follow, especially around whether the team is planning a major scheme shift or simply reinforcing what worked. Hiring Robert Livingston as defensive pass game coordinator reads more like the second: an investment in pass-defense details (coverage rules, matchup plans, weekly adjustments) rather than a headline-grabbing overhaul. It also matters that Livingston is reuniting with Vance Joseph, which suggests Denver wants the defensive staff speaking the same language as the Broncos build their 2026 plan. If more changes come, this looks like the kind of foundational hire that helps the secondary and overall communication stay consistent from OTAs through the season.
Broncos Bring in a Trusted Vance Joseph Ally for a Key Defensive Role