Keary Colbert enters his first season as wide receivers coach for the Denver Broncos in 2023. He was hired by the club on Feb. 25.
Colbert joins the Broncos with 13 years of coaching experience, including 12 at the collegiate level. He most recently served as the wide receivers coach at the University of Florida in 2022.
Last season with the Gators, Colbert coached a unit that totaled 145 receptions for 2,429 yards (16.8 avg.) with 14 touchdowns. Five receivers posted at least 10 receptions, with wide receiver Xzavier Henderson registering a team-high 38 catches.
Under his guidance in 2022, junior wide receiver Ricky Pearsall led Florida in receiving yards (661) and touchdowns (5) on 33 catches. He posted two 100-yard receiving games, including a career-high 148 yards on five receptions (29.6 avg.) on Nov. 25 at Florida State.
Colbert joined Florida after spending the previous six seasons with his alma mater, the University of Southern California. He began his second stint as an offensive analyst for two seasons (2016-17) before serving as tight ends coach (2018) and wide receivers coach (2019-21) during his final four years at the university.
During the six-year stint at USC under Head Coach Clay Helton, the Trojans posted a 43-27 regular-season record and a .614 winning percentage. The program won double-digit games in 2016 and '17, captured the 2017 Pac-12 championship—its first since 2008—and advanced to three bowl games.
Colbert's stint at USC was highlighted by coaching three wide receivers who were selected in the NFL Draft. Drake London was selected by Atlanta with the eighth overall pick of the 2022 draft, while Michael Pittman (2020, 2nd Rd., 34th overall) and Amon-Ra St. Brown (2021, 4th Rd., 112th overall) were drafted by Indianapolis and Detroit, respectively.
London, who was coached by Colbert for the entirety of his collegiate career (2019-21), notched 160 receptions for 2,153 yards (13.5 avg.) with 15 touchdowns. He finished his career ranked 16th in receiving yards (2,153) and 17th in receptions (160) while playing only 27 career games (23 starts).
In two seasons under Colbert's watch from 2019-20, St. Brown recorded 118 receptions for 1,520 yards (12.9 avg.) with 13 touchdowns. Colbert helped coach St. Brown to the 11th-most receptions (178) in USC program history, while helping him collect seven 100-yard receiving performances.
In his first NFL season in 2021, St. Brown set the Lions rookie record for receiving yards (912) and added a team-leading five touchdowns. He made his first career Pro Bowl in 2022 after totaling 106 catches for 1,161 yards (11.0 avg.) with six scores.
Colbert coached Pittman in his final collegiate season in 2019 and guided him to 101 receptions for 1,275 yards (12.6 avg.) with 11 touchdowns. One of the nation's most accomplished wide receivers during his senior campaign, Pittman ranked fifth nationally in receptions (101) while being a finalist for the Fred Biletnikoff and Jason Witten awards.
Prior to USC, Colbert spent two seasons (2014-15) at the University of Alabama, where he worked as an offensive analyst. He was part of a coaching staff that helped the team win the 2015 National Championship while amassing a 26-3 (.897) record during his two seasons there.
Preceding his time at Alabama, Colbert served as wide receivers coach for Georgia State University for the 2013 campaign. He coached wide receiver Robert Davis, who was selected by Washington in the sixth round (209th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft, and wide receiver Albert Wilson, who was a 1,000-yard pass catcher that season.
Colbert began his coaching career at USC in 2010 and was a graduate assistant tight ends coach, where he coached tight end Jordan Cameron and tight end Rhett Ellison. He went on to serve as a volunteer coach for Pace Academy in Atlanta in 2012.
Originally selected by Carolina in the second round (62nd overall) of the 2004 NFL Draft, Colbert played six NFL seasons with the Panthers (2004-07), Broncos (2008), Seahawks (2008), Lions (2008) and Chiefs (2011). He appeared in 75 career games (49 starts), totaling 130 receptions for 1,629 yards (12.5 avg.) with eight touchdowns.
In his rookie season with Carolina, he set team rookie records in receptions (47), receiving yards (754) and touchdowns (5).
A four-year starter at USC, Colbert broke the all-time program record in receptions (207) and added 2,964 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns. He currently ranks sixth in receptions and seventh in receiving yards.
Colbert was a team captain during his senior season in 2003 when the team went 12-1 in the regular season and captured its 10th national championship under Head Coach Pete Carroll. He capped his collegiate career by earning second-team All-Pac 10 honors in consecutive years from 2002-03.
An Oxnard, Calif. native, Colbert received his bachelor's degree in sociology from USC in 2006. Colbert is married to his wife, Safiya, and has two sons, Kaden and Khari.
University of Southern California
Offensive Quality Control 2016-17
Offensive Analyst 2014-15
