Former Bengals DT Sends Message After Joining Steelers Coaching Staff

Few rivalries in professional football carry the history and level of hostility of the Cincinnati Bengals vs Pittsburgh Steelers. It existed long before Joe Burrow arrived in Cincinnati and stretches back beyond the Super Bowl era itself. Since the two franchises became division rivals in 1970, the matchup has consistently produced games defined by physicality, resentment, and playoff implications. Pittsburgh owns a 72-41 all-time record against Cincinnati, including a dominant 37-19 mark at home. 

It has been equally daunting for players crossing sides in this rivalry. Former Steelers joining Cincinnati become immediate talking points, and the same applies in Pittsburgh when former Bengals arrive. 

This offseason has already featured another notable example, with one of the most recognizable faces in Bengals’ defensive history now set to cheer for The Black and Gold.  

Former Bengals defensive tackle Domata Peko is entering his first season as the Steelers’ defensive line coach after joining Mike McCarthy’s staff for 2026.

Peko spent 11 seasons in Cincinnati and started 156 of 171 games during that stretch. He totaled 517 tackles, 18.5 sacks, and 39 tackles for loss while helping Cincinnati win three division titles and reach the playoffs six times. 23 of those games came against Pittsburgh, including the infamous 2015 Wild Card matchup that remains one of the ugliest postseason games of the era.

Peko has not forgotten what those matchups felt like and he took a brief trip down memory lane when addressing the media on Thursday. 

“It was like a bloodbath every time we played you guys,” Peko told reporters. “I remember that was the most sore I felt after games.”

Now he will experience the rivalry from the opposite sideline. Peko described the opportunity to join Pittsburgh’s staff as another step forward in his coaching career, specifically pointing to the chance to work again with McCarthy and inside one of the NFL’s most respected organizations.

The 2026 schedule has already ensured he will not wait long to face his former team. The Bengals travel to Acrisure Stadium in Week 3 for a Sept. 27 matchup scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on CBS. It will mark Peko’s first game coaching against Cincinnati in the same stadium where he spent years battling through some of the most physical games of his career.

The rematch arrives in Week 10 at Paycor Stadium on Sunday Night Football, with the AFC North race likely beginning to take shape by mid-November.