When the college football season kicks off again, Deion Sanders will enter his fourth year as head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes and his sixth season overall at the collegiate level, after spending his first two years in the FCS at Jackson State Tigers.
Although the Buffaloes are coming off a down year, Sanders is already reinforcing both his roster and coaching staff following a hectic transfer portal window.
On Saturday, former NFL safety and Ohio State standout Vonn Bell announced that he has been hired as Colorado’s new safeties coach, joining Sanders’ staff. While Bell has not formally retired from the NFL, his move to coaching at age 31 signals a likely transition from playing.
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Bell built an impressive resume over his collegiate and professional career. He played for the Buckeyes from 2013–2015, helping the program capture a national championship before being selected in the second round of the NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints.
After New Orleans, Bell joined the Cincinnati Bengals, helping lead them to a Super Bowl appearance. He also had a brief stint with the Carolina Panthers before returning to Cincinnati in 2024, serving as a team captain for four seasons.
Over his NFL career, Bell recorded 760 tackles, 9.5 sacks, 16 forced fumbles, 12 fumble recoveries, 29 pass deflections, and nine interceptions. One of his most notable plays came in overtime of the AFC Championship Game against the Kansas City Chiefs, setting up the game-winning field goal that sent the Bengals to Super Bowl XL.
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