Steelers Bring in a Familiar Foe: Domata Peko Joins Pittsburgh as Defensive Line Coach
The Pittsburgh Steelers are turning to a familiar face-albeit one that used to be on the other side of the AFC North trenches. New head coach Mike McCarthy continues shaping his staff, and his latest addition is former NFL nose tackle Domata Peko, who steps in as the team’s new defensive line coach.
If you're a longtime Steelers fan, that name might stir up some memories-and a few bruises.
Ben Roethlisberger certainly remembers. The former Pittsburgh quarterback, now retired and hosting his own show, recalled squaring off against Peko during the height of the Steelers-Bengals rivalry. And while the battles were fierce, there's no mistaking the respect.
“Domata Peko played D-line in Cincinnati. I played against him a lot,” Roethlisberger said on his podcast, Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger.
“He was a guy I have a lot of respect for. Good football player, a very smart football player.
You knew you were going to be sore because of the cheap shots, the bad parts.”
That’s vintage AFC North football-bruising, borderline, and always personal. But Roethlisberger didn’t dwell on the pain. He emphasized Peko’s football IQ and professionalism, calling the hire a strong move for the Steelers.
“This was a guy that you respected. He respected the game.
He respected players,” Roethlisberger said. “So I have a lot of respect for him.
I think that’s a great pick-up.”
And there’s plenty of reason to believe Peko’s experience will translate to the coaching ranks. During his 15-year playing career, Peko was a model of consistency and durability, appearing in 214 games and piling up 616 tackles, 20 sacks, five fumble recoveries, and 14 passes defensed. He was the kind of interior presence you had to account for on every snap.
Peko’s coaching journey began in 2024 with the Dallas Cowboys, where he worked under Mike Zimmer-his former defensive coordinator in Cincinnati. Most recently, he served as the defensive line coach at Colorado under Deion Sanders, gaining valuable experience on the college sidelines.
Now, he steps into a key role on a Steelers defense that has long prided itself on physicality up front. He replaces Karl Dunbar, who had held the position since 2018, and joins a defensive staff that includes Patrick Graham as defensive coordinator, Jason Simmons overseeing the pass game and secondary, and Scott McCurley leading the linebackers.
There’s no shortage of talent in Peko’s new room. Cam Heyward returns for his 16th season, still anchoring the line with leadership and grit. Young players like Keeanu Benton, Derrick Harmon, and Yahya Black will now have a seasoned veteran guiding their development-someone who’s been through the wars and knows what it takes to win in the trenches.
For a franchise that has always valued toughness and tradition, bringing in a former rival who earned his stripes the hard way might be the perfect fit. Domata Peko may have once made life difficult for the Steelers, but now he’s here to make life even tougher for their opponents.