Cincinnati Bengals Team | Bengals.com

Robert Livingston enters his ninth season on the Bengals' coaching staff in 2023. This will be Livingston's eighth season with the title of secondary coach, and his sixth with a specific focus on the Bengals' safeties.

Robert Livingston enters his ninth season on the Bengals' coaching staff in 2023. This will be Livingston's eighth season with the title of secondary coach, and his sixth with a specific focus on the Bengals' safeties.

In 2021, two of the team's top-three tacklers came from the safety position, as Von Bell recorded 97 while Jessie Bates III logged 88. Each player made an impact play during the Bengals' postseason run to an AFC Championship and a berth in Super Bowl LVI, as Bell picked off Kansas City QB Patrick Mahomes in overtime of the AFC title game to help set up a game-winning field goal, two weeks before Bates intercepted L.A. Rams QB Matthew Stafford late in the first half of the Super Bowl.

Over the last four seasons, Livingston has helped Bates, a 2018 second-round pick of the Bengals, become one of the top safeties in the NFL. In 2020, Bates tied for sixth in the NFL in PDs (15) and topped the 100-tackle mark for the third straight season. Despite the absence of an in-person offseason program in 2020, Livingston also helped transition Bell, an unrestricted free agent signee, into Cincinnati's starting lineup. Bell (114) and Bates (107) went on to rank first and second on the team in tackles, and played a key role in the defense holding opposing passers to just a 62.8 completion percentage (sixth in the NFL).

In 2019, Livingston and the secondary helped the defense to a significant turnaround over the final eight games. The secondary held opponents to just a 59.3 completion percentage the second half of the season, down from 64.3 percent the first eight games. The defense also yielded 84.1 fewer yards per game the final eight games, and the coverage helped the pass rush notch 11 more sacks.

Livingston helped spur the development of Bates in 2018, as the rookie started all 16 games, recorded three INTs and became only the sixth rookie ever to lead the Bengals in tackles (111). Livingston also guided veteran S Shawn Williams to his most productive season as a pro. Williams finished second on the team in tackles (108) and had a team-high five INTs.

In 2017, the Bengals' secondary played a key role in the defense ranking eighth in the NFL against the pass (211.2 yards per game) and sixth in fewest yards per play (5.0). The Bengals also ranked sixth in the NFL in red-zone defense, allowing TDs on only 46.4 percent of trips inside the 20-yard line.

Livingston helped the 2016 Bengals' secondary record 13 of the team's 17 INTs, which ranked second in the league. The defense also held opponents to the fifth-lowest passer rating in the NFL (83.1), and Cincinnati yielded the second-fewest points per game (17.4).

In 2015, Livingston did on-field work with the defensive secondary, while working in defensive quality control and also as a special teams assistant. His defensive efforts helped the Bengals rank second in the NFL in fewest points allowed at 17.4 per game. Cincinnati also had 21 INTs (third in the NFL), including 17 by defensive backs, and allowed the second-fewest TD passes in the league (18). Two Bengals DBs — S Reggie Nelson and CB Adam Jones — were selected to the Pro Bowl.

From 2012-14, Livingston worked as a Bengals scout, covering the southeast — primarily the Southeastern and Atlantic Coast conferences — and had a role in evaluating defensive backs from across the nation.

Livingston came to the Bengals from Vanderbilt University, where he served in 2011 as defensive quality control coach. He was on the Furman University football staff in 2010.

At Vanderbilt, Livingston coached two defensive backs who made the NFL (CB Casey Hayward and S Sean Richardson). At Furman, Livingston's primary coaching duties were with safeties.

A native of Hendersonville, N.C., Livingston was a two-time Athlete of the Year at Hendersonville High School. He played free safety at the College of William & Mary from 2007-09, contributing to one of the top defensive units in the NCAA's FCS ranks. He graduated from William & Mary with a degree in kinesiology.

Livingston and his wife, Tricia, have a son, Luke, and two daughters, Emma and Savannah.