Over a 15-year NFL playing career, against no team did Domata Peko have more tackles (76) or sacks (three) against than the Pittsburgh Steelers.

But against no other team did he experience more defeats (17), either.

None were more deflating than a postseason setback at home when Peko – a longtime Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle – endured his team melting down in the final minutes for a playoff loss that ended Peko’s 10th NFL season in January 2016.

“That’s one of the memories,” Peko said Wednesday, “that you try to forget.”

Peko chuckled. It’s a memory he can view through an entirely new lens now that he’s traded wearing orange-and-black for black-and-gold.

The 41-year-old was hired in February by new Steelers coach Mike McCarthy to serve as defensive line coach.

“It’s a blessing, man,” Peko said. “Really enjoy being here. I know it’s different from when I was in Cincy, but I was there as a player. Now, as a coach, I’m just trying to be the best I can and be the best version of myself here. I’m excited. The traditions, the culture, everything they’ve done in the past here, it’s really good to be part of it. I just want to make my mark now now that I’m a Steeler, to continue to show greatness here.”

Peko played the final six of his 214 career NFL games in 2020 with the Arizona Cardinals. The final of his 25 games (including playoffs) against the Steelers – the most of any opponent he faced – came during a brief 2019 stint with another AFC rival, the Baltimore Ravens.

While a member of the Bengals it was in December 2016 the last time he faced the Steelers. That was about 11 months after the memorable 2015 season wild-card playoff game in which the Steelers took advantage of a pair of unsportsmanlike conduct penalties by Bengals players to get into field-goal range for a Chris Boswell winning field goal with 14 seconds left.

Boswell is one of only two Steelers players who remain from that game – though the son of a prominent figure from that evening is currently on the Steelers roster.

Joey Porter Sr. was then a Steelers assistant who that day went onto the field during a skirmish that helped incite the penalties against the Bengals. Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. is now a prominent member of the Steelers defense.

Peko laughed when asked if he’s talked to the younger Porter about the incident.

“I’ve just been saying, ‘What’s up,’ and telling him to say, ‘What’s up,’ to his dad and all those things,” Peko said.

After losing 17 of 25 games as a player against the Steelers of that era, does Peko have a positive memory of any of those meetings from a Bengals perspective?

“Man, I just enjoy rivalries,” he said. “I just remember playing back when I was with the Bengals. It was like a bloodbath every time we played you guys. I remember that was like the most sore I’ve ever felt after games was when we played in the AFC North here versus the Steelers.”

Peko got his start in coaching as a hire by McCarthy two years ago with the Dallas Cowboys. Peko last season served as defensive line coach at the University of Colorado under Deion Sanders.

In his new gig, one of his positional pupils is a player only 3 ½ years his junior in Cameron Heyward – who joins Boswell as the only Steelers players remaining from that famous (or infamous, from Peko’s perspective) playoff game in Cincinnati over a decade ago.

Much of Peko’s job description will be to help develop the Steelers’ bevy of young and ascending defensive linemen in Keeanu Benton, Derrick Harmon, Yahya Black, Logan Lee and rookie Gabriel Rubio.

After 171 games playing for the Bengals – the fourth-most of any defensive player in franchise history – Peko’s first AFC North games against them will come on Sept. 27 and Nov. 15 this autumn.

“You’ve always got to respect your opponents, so I had nothing but love for the Steelers – even when I was in Cincinnati,” Peko said. “But now that I’m here, I’m freaking Steeler Nation all day and excited to wear the black and gold.”

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