Deion Sanders' Colorado staff member shares eye-opening story on biggest life lesson: "Made $25 a month. Got three meals a week"
Robert Livingston, the Colorado Buffaloes' defensive coordinator, shared a profound life lesson with the team during a team meeting at the Buffs’ facility, in a video uploaded by Deion Sanders via Instagram on Tuesday. Recalling a tough time in his life, Livingston spoke about learning to seize opportunities — especially during his early days when he could only able to afford "three meals a week."
Livingston’s journey has been anything but easy. After a tough semifinal loss in college in 2009, he found himself at a crossroads.
“We lose the National semi-finals,” he said. “That's on Friday. I graduate on Saturday and I had nowhere to go on Sunday.”
Initially, Livingston set his sights on the CFL, but after getting cut, he spent a month working demolition jobs just to make ends meet. His first coaching role came in 2010 with Furman University, where he served as the safeties coach. Yet even then, the struggle continued. He would coach during the day and wash practice clothes at night.
“First job I ever had was in Farming,” he said. “I made $25 a month. Got three meals a week. And it's a good place to go off that and to wash the practice clothes at night. So, I coached on the day and washed the clothes at night.”
From there, Livingston's career took off. He joined the Cincinnati Bengals coaching staff in 2012, where he made a lasting impact on their defensive unit. By 2021, the Bengals had one of the league's top rushing defenses.
Now, he’s helping to shape Colorado’s defense, while bringing with him the wisdom from those early, challenging years.
Colorado Robert Livingston’s journey from player to coach
Robert Livingston’s journey from player to coach is one filled with steady growth and big moments. After his playing days as a safety at William & Mary (2007-2009), Livingston began his coaching career as a safeties coach at Furman in 2010. A year later, he joined Vanderbilt as a defensive quality control coach, where he got hands-on experience.
Livingston’s NFL break came in 2012, joining the Cincinnati Bengals as a scout. His strong work ethic paid off quickly; by 2015, he was promoted to defensive quality control and special teams assistant, and then again in 2016 to secondary coach.
Under his guidance, the Bengals' defense sharpened. In 2021, the Bengals finished with a 10-7 record, capturing their first AFC North title since 2015 and making an electrifying run to their first Super Bowl appearance since 1988.