Domata Peko played 11 years for the Cincinnati Bengals. But in 2026, he will be part of Mike McCarthy’s first coaching staff with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Peko addressed joining the black and gold side of the heated AFC North rivalries while appearing on Thee Pregame Network this week.
“You’re always blessed when you get an opportunity to elevate,” Peko said on Wednesday. “Especially with an organization like Pittsburgh, the Steelers.
“Don’t get much better than that.”
NFL players and coaches are used to changing uniforms. But Peko’s comments are quite notable since he spent 12 combined seasons as a player with the Bengals and Baltimore Ravens.
Peko began his NFL coaching career with the Dallas Cowboys under McCarthy in 2024.
“Gotta go to the next level and help out coach Mike McCarthy, which is a blessing for me,” added Peko. “Spent some time with him in Dallas, and I’m happy to get back to work with him with the Pittsburgh Steelers.”
Last season, Peko coached under another notable name — Deion Sanders. Peko served as Colorado’s defensive line coach in 2025.
In Pittsburgh, Peko is replacing longtime defensive line coach Karl Dunbar.
Domata Peko Reacts to Joining Steelers Coaching Staff
Unlike most of the assistants McCarthy has added to his first staff in Pittsburgh, Peko doesn’t have much coaching experience.
With the Cowboys in 2024, Peko served as a defensive assistant.
But his playing experience obviously should help. Peko also saw first-hand how to run a position group with the Cowboys and then coached the defensive line last year at Colorado.
“I actually started off, it’s called the Bill Walsh Coaches Fellowship,” Peko said of his start in coaching, via Steelers Depot’s Alex Kozora. “Drawing up cards, different runs. Top runs of the week. Doing some computer things as well, and PowerPoint.
“Getting some meetings ready for our main d-line coach.”
It takes some assistants years of that kind of grunt work to become a position coach. Peko will get his first chance with the Steelers in 2026.
Peko posted 20 sacks, 47 tackles for loss and 50 quarterback hits in 214 NFL games over 15 years. He played 12 of his 15 seasons in the AFC North.
Peko also played two years for the Denver Broncos and one for the Arizona Cardinals.
In his best statistical season, Peko registered five sacks with six tackles for loss and a pass defense at 31 years old during 2015.
Interestingly, Peko will be Pittsburgh defensive captain Cameron Heyward’s new position coach (as long as Heyward returns for 2026). Peko faced the Steelers 15 times with Heyward on the roster.
Jets hire Karl Dunbar: Report
Peko has big shoes to fill in Pittsburgh. One of the team’s longest-tenured position coaches under previous head coach Mike Tomlin was defensive line coach Karl Dunbar.
On Wednesday, the New York Jets announced hiring Dunbar.
Dunbar previously coached the Jets defensive line from 2012-14. He coached the same position group with the Buffalo Bills in 2015 and Alabama from 2016-17 before joining the Steelers in 2018.
He coached the Steelers defensive line for eight seasons.
Dunbar has also experienced stints with the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings. He’s never coached any position group other than defensive line.
The Steelers actually selected Dunbar at No. 209 overall in the eighth round of the 1990 NFL Draft. The former defensive end never appeared during a regular season game for the Steelers. But he played 21 combined contests for the New Orleans Saints and Arizona Cardinals from 1993-95.
Former AFC North Lineman Speaks out on Joining Steelers