Eric Boggs
For Ohio State fans, seeing former standouts transition into coaching always sparks pride, and that’s exactly the case with Vonn Bell, who has officially been promoted to safeties coach for the Colorado Buffaloes after previously serving as a defensive analyst. The move comes as head coach Deion Sanders reshapes his staff following the departure of defensive coordinator Robert Livingston to the Denver Broncos, a transition that reportedly included a recommendation for Bell from the coach who worked with him during his time with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Bell’s rapid rise in coaching comes just over a year after concluding a productive nine-season NFL career that included stops with the New Orleans Saints, Bengals, and Carolina Panthers, where he built a reputation as a physical, communicative leader in the secondary. Across 139 games with 117 starts, he compiled more than 500 tackles, 9.5 sacks, eight interceptions, 16 forced fumbles, and dozens of pass breakups, while also contributing to Cincinnati’s run to Super Bowl LVI. For Buckeye supporters, however, Bell’s legacy was cemented earlier when he starred for the Ohio State Buckeyes from 2013–15, starting on the 2014 national championship team and earning first-team All-America honors the following season.
His addition continues Sanders’ pattern of stocking his sideline with accomplished former pros. Bell joins offensive line coach Andre Gurode as a recent NFL veteran on staff, while last year’s group included Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk and Warren Sapp, plus former defensive line coach Domata Peko, who has since moved on to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Faulk also departed to become head coach at Southern University, leaving Colorado with significant turnover as it attempts to rebound from a difficult defensive season.
Staff restructuring hasn’t stopped there. Chris Marve steps in to replace Livingston as coordinator, while new offensive coordinator Brennan Marion arrives from Sacramento State and has brought assistants Justin Houlihan and Kenny Wagner with him. The sweeping overhaul underscores just how pivotal the upcoming season could be for Sanders’ tenure as he works to elevate a roster that struggled on both sides of the ball last year.
From a Buckeye perspective, Bell’s hiring is another reminder of Ohio State’s pipeline not just to the NFL but to leadership roles across football. His intelligence, toughness, and championship pedigree made him a fan favorite in Columbus, and if those same traits translate to coaching, Colorado’s secondary may soon be guided by one of the sharpest defensive minds to come out of Ohio State in recent years.
