The Colorado Buffaloes are once again in transition mode, this time on the defensive side of the ball. Domata Peko, who joined Deion Sanders’ staff just last season, is headed back to the NFL, accepting a role with the Pittsburgh Steelers as their new defensive line coach.
Peko’s time in Boulder was brief-just one season-but his presence brought a veteran edge to the Buffaloes’ defensive front. A former NFL nose tackle with a 14-year playing career under his belt, Peko brought toughness and pro-level insight to a young Colorado defense.
While there were moments of promise from the defensive line in 2025, the unit ultimately regressed from its 2024 form. The flashes were there, but consistency was hard to come by.
Before arriving at Colorado, Peko got his coaching start with the Dallas Cowboys in 2024, working as a defensive analyst under head coach Mike McCarthy. That connection proved pivotal.
When McCarthy was let go by Dallas and later hired by the Steelers this past January, it didn’t take long for the two to reunite. Peko, clearly still wired into the NFL world, got the call and made the jump back to the pros.
For Colorado, the timing isn’t ideal. Spring football is right around the corner, and defensive line development is a key storyline heading into Year 2 under Coach Prime. With Peko gone, the Buffs now have a vacancy to fill on a staff that’s already seen its fair share of turnover since Sanders took over the program.
There’s no word yet on who will take over the defensive line room, but given the calendar, a hire likely isn’t far off. Whoever steps into that role will inherit a group that needs to get stronger at the point of attack and more disruptive in the trenches-especially in a Pac-12 (or whatever form the conference takes next season) that’s loaded with offensive firepower.
For now, the search is on in Boulder. As soon as a new name emerges, all eyes will be on how they plan to reshape a defensive front that’s still looking for its identity.