February 28, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n\n\tBell has actually been with the Buffaloes since last year, but had not formally been announced as a member of Colorado\u2019s coaching staff until Saturday.\u00a0His promotion to safeties coach comes after former Colorado defensive coordinator Robert Livingston, who doubled as Colorado\u2019s safeties coach,\u00a0left the Buffaloes to be the defensive passing game coordinator and secondary coach for the NFL\u2019s Denver Broncos.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tHe becomes\u00a0the Buffaloes\u2019 safeties coach just over a year after the conclusion of his NFL career. A second-round pick in the 2016 NFL draft, Bell played in the NFL for nine seasons, starting 117 of 139 games with the New Orleans Saints, Cincinnati Bengals and Carolina Panthers. For his career, Bell recorded\u00a0501 tackles with 27 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, eight interceptions, 16 forced fumbles, 12 fumble recoveries, one fumble return touchdown and 39 passes defensed.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tBell played for Ohio State from 2013-15, starting at free safety for the Buckeyes\u2019 2014 national championship team and earning first-team All-American honors in 2015.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tHis hiring continues a trend of Colorado head coach Deion Sanders \u2013 a Pro Football Hall of Famer himself \u2013 hiring former NFL stars as assistant coaches. Bell joins offensive line coach Andre Gurode as former NFL players on Colorado\u2019s current staff.\u00a0Pro Football Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk and Warren Sapp were on Colorado\u2019s staff last year, but Sapp resigned from\u00a0his position as defensive pass rush coordinator this week while Faulk left to become the head coach at Southern. Former NFL defensive tackle Domata Peko was also on Colorado\u2019s staff last season as defensive line coach, but left to become the Pittsburgh Steelers\u2019 defensive line coach.\n<\/p>\n