Domata Peko Joins Steelers Coaching Staff, Marking a Notable AFC North Return
For over a decade, Domata Peko was a staple of the Cincinnati Bengals’ defensive front - a fan favorite with his signature hair flying out of his helmet and a motor that never stopped. Now, he’s back in the AFC North, but not in orange and black. Peko is joining the Pittsburgh Steelers as their new defensive line coach under Mike McCarthy, bringing his trench-warrior mentality to one of the Bengals’ fiercest rivals.
This is a significant hire for the Steelers, and not just because of Peko’s playing pedigree. He’s been steadily building his coaching résumé, most recently working under Deion Sanders at Colorado, and before that, serving on the Dallas Cowboys' staff in 2024 with former Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer. That’s a strong coaching tree to be part of, and it’s clear Peko is positioning himself for a bigger role in the future - potentially even a defensive coordinator gig down the line.
But let’s be real: seeing Peko in black and gold is going to feel strange for Bengals fans.
From 2006 to 2016, Peko was a central figure in Cincinnati’s defense. He lined up next to Geno Atkins during some of the franchise’s most competitive years, helping anchor a unit that consistently ranked among the league’s toughest against the run. He was part of the core that helped guide the Bengals to multiple playoff appearances, and his leadership in the locker room was as valuable as his presence on the field.
So why Pittsburgh? Why not a return to Cincinnati, where he spent the bulk of his career?
That’s the question that lingers - not just with Peko, but with how the Bengals have historically handled relationships with their former players. Whether it’s Ring of Honor logistics or broader alumni engagement, there’s a perception that the franchise doesn’t always go the extra mile to bring its veterans back into the fold. And while current defensive line coach and run game coordinator Jerry Montgomery brings a solid track record from his time in Green Bay, it’s hard not to wonder what might’ve been if Peko were welcomed back into the Bengals’ building in a coaching capacity.
Instead, he’s now tasked with developing Pittsburgh’s young defensive front - including 2025 first-round pick Derrick Harmon, a player some Bengals fans had their eyes on before Cincinnati opted for Shemar Stewart at No. 17. Harmon is a raw but explosive talent, and with Peko mentoring him, there’s a real chance the Steelers have something special brewing up front.
That storyline will be one to watch. If Harmon blossoms into a dominant force under Peko’s guidance - and especially if Stewart doesn’t pan out in Cincinnati - it’ll only add more fuel to the already fiery rivalry between these two franchises.
At the end of the day, Peko’s move isn’t about betrayal. It’s about opportunity.
He’s carving out a path in the coaching world, and Pittsburgh offered him a chance to take the next step. But for Bengals fans who remember him as a cornerstone of their defense - and who still feel the void left by D.J.
Reader’s departure after 2023 - it’s going to be tough seeing one of their own coaching on the other side of the AFC North divide.
Still, there’s a certain poetry to it. Peko, the longtime enforcer in the trenches, now shaping the next generation of defensive linemen - just not in the uniform many hoped he’d return to.