Feb. 26, 2026, 3:24 p.m. MT
Colorado Buffaloes defensive pass rush coordinator Warren Sapp will not return for the 2026 season, Brandon Krisztal reports. He coached with the Buffaloes for three seasons beginning in 2023 under head coach Deion Sanders.
Sapp had a decorated career in the NFL spanning 13 seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders. He registered 578 tackles, 96.5 sacks and 91 tackles for loss from his defensive tackle position, earning him four first-team All-Pro selections. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013, the first player in Buccaneers history to do so.
Multiple reports suggest that Sapp didn’t see a coaching career after playing, but was hired by Sanders in 2023 to lead the defensive line and pass rush unit.
During his tenure, the Buffaloes finished 63rd (2023), 16th (2024) and 129th (2025) in total sacks, with production making a clear downturn last season as Colorado struggled through a 3-9 campaign and a 15th place finish in the Big 12.
Sapp’s departure comes just days after Colorado defensive coordinator Robert Livingston was hired away by the Denver Broncos and Chris Marve, who was formerly the linebackers coach, was promoted to replace Livingston.
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