Pro Football Hall of Famer Warren Sapp has resigned from his coaching position at the University of Colorado.
Sapp served on head coach Deion Sanders’ staff for two seasons, most recently as pass rush coordinator.
Sapp’s departure is one of several recent changes to the Buffaloes’ defensive coaching staff.
Pro Football Hall of Famer Warren Sapp is no longer on the coaching staff at Colorado under head coach Deion Sanders after spending two seasons in Boulder as a high-profile, lower-rung assistant coach.
Sapp, 53, never had served as a full-time coach before he joined Sanders’ staff in 2024, first as a graduate assistant coach and then as pass rush coordinator. But he said he loved his new role. It’s not clear why he’s taking his mohawk out of town.
“Warren Sapp has resigned from the CU football coaching staff to pursue other opportunities,” Colorado’s athletic department said in a statement Feb. 26. “CU Athletics thanks Warren for his contributions to our football program over the last two seasons and for his commitment to our student-athletes.”
Sapp is one of several recent coaching staff departures for the Buffaloes on defense, including defensive line coach Domata Peko, who left to join the staff of the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers. Defensive coordinator Robert Livingston also left to join the staff of the NFL’s Denver Broncos, leaving a void that was filled by Chris Marve, who already was on staff as the team’s new linebackers coach.
The Buffs led the Big 12 Conference in quarterback sacks in 2024 with 39 but regressed in 2025 with only 13, which dropped them to a tie for 14th out of 16 teams in the league.
Sapp earned $150,000 at Colorado in his first year at Colorado, working an entry-level coaching job before getting paid $156,000 in his second year. His prospective hiring at Colorado in 2024 raised concerns among domestic violence survivor advocates in Colorado because of his previous history. But Colorado released a statement then noting that athletic director Rick George “personally met with Warren to clearly articulate the department’s standards and expectations, to which he acknowledged and agreed.’
Last year, Colorado had three Pro Football Hall of Famers on staff, including Sanders, Sapp and Marshall Faulk. But now it’s down to one (Sanders) after Faulk also left to take the head coaching job at Southern in Louisiana.
Colorado opens the spring practice season March 2 with 15 practices through April 11. It will be the fourth spring season in Boulder under Sanders, whose team last year finished 3-9 in 2025 after a 9-4 season in 2024 and a 4-8 season in 2023.
Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenboer@usatoday.com
