Following retirement from a 15-year NFL career, Domata Peko was content with enjoying time off in 2021.
“I took like a year off, where I didn’t do much football,” the former Cincinnati Bengals and Denver Broncos defensive lineman said. “I thought that once I was done playing for 15 years, I was just going to sit at home, enjoy the family and all that.”
Instead, Peko has found a new passion, which has led him to Boulder as the defensive line coach for the Colorado Buffaloes.
“I felt like God has been pushing me in this direction, and just the love for the game, and I really love it,” said Peko, who was hired last month. “I’m a competitive guy, and just to get back out to coaching and helping these young guys on their journeys, that’s what really brings me here, man. Just trying to shine my light and get these guys to be the best version of themselves. That’s what makes my day. I really enjoy coaching.”
The 40-year-old Peko retired after playing the 2020 season with the Arizona Cardinals and he spent last year working as a defensive assistant with the Dallas Cowboys.
Peko landed in Boulder because of his connection with long-time NFL coach Mike Zimmer, his defensive coordinator for six seasons in Cincinnati. Zimmer, a long-time mentor of CU head coach Deion Sanders, brought Peko to Dallas last year and then recommended him to Sanders this winter.
Peko has also known CU defensive coordinator Robert Livingston for years, as Livingston spent the past 12 years with the Bengals – the first five of those with Peko on the team.
“It’s all through networking and through relationships,” Peko said. “I thank God for this opportunity. I’m truly blessed to be here and to be under some great coaches and the things that Colorado has done the past three years, I feel like the world has noticed it.
“Man, I remember being in Dallas and on Saturdays where we’re all eating dinner, we’re like we couldn’t wait to find where Colorado is playing. So the energy, this opportunity and a chance to go to the next level here is what brought me here.”
Peko, who starred at Michigan State before being selected in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Bengals, said coaching was not always on his radar. But, as he became an older player, those thoughts changed.
Peko spent 11 seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals before playing two years (2017-18) with the Broncos, one with the Baltimore Ravens and one with the Cardinals. He started 194 of his 214 career games, including every game he played from 2007-2018, recording 616 tackles, 47 tackles for loss, 20 sacks and 50 quarterback hits.
“I felt like as I got older in my career, I became like a player-coach,” he said. “And once I got to, like, year 10, people just kept looking up to me, like, ‘Hey, Peko, what I do on this? Peko, what do I do on this block?’ And I just felt like I was a player-coach from when I was playing, my last five years of playing.”
Domata Sr. Peko (94) of the Denver Broncos is introduced to the game against the Los Angeles Chargers. The Denver Broncos hosted the Los Angeles Chargers at Broncos Stadium at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
When the opportunity at CU came up this winter, Peko said it was a blessing, but he had long talks and prayers with his wife and kids about the job.
“We had to make a decision,” he said. “We all live in California right now, my wife and my three boys, so we prayed about it, asked God about it and then we talked about it as a family. My kids, they’re all football players. They’re like, ‘Dad, you better go take that job.’ And they’re like, ‘Go do it.’ So my wife and my kids were pushing me to do it.”
He’s glad they did because it didn’t take long for Peko to feel the energy in the building at CU and starting adding his own flavor to the staff.
“I’m so happy that I’m here now,” he said. “Once I got into the door, man, I could see why this team has been so successful over the past couple years, because of the energy they have here, the great coaching staff they have. Not only that, the players. The players are hungry and they want to get better. I feel like that’s the name of the game in football.
“It’s what have you done for us now? And then also, what are we gonna do tomorrow? Let’s keep stacking great days and keep getting better and sharpen each other up. But definitely love being here and happy I got that call and happy to be the D-line coach here.”
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