With an almost entirely new coaching staff in 2026, the Steelers defense should look different this season.
At the team’s OTA on Wednesday, several assistant coaches spoke to the media, including new defensive line coach Domata Peko, who hinted at some position changes for Pittsburgh’s Keeanu Benton and Yahya Black.
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Under the team’s former defensive line coach Karl Dunbar, Benton primarily played nose tackle while Black often operated as a 4i (lining up on the offensive tackle’s inside shoulder). Fans and analysts often argued the two players were miscast, with Benton fitting the best as a 3-tech, and Black playing nose.
Peko said similar changes could be coming.
When asked about Benton, per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s YouTube channel, Peko emphasized versatility. “I’m excited for (Benton),” he said. “He’s a player that’s been climbing each year and getting better and better. They played him at a lot of nose last year, but I feel like he can play any position on that defensive front. So, excited to work with him. He’s been coming in on these optional days and been grinding with us.”
Benton will be entering the last year of his rookie contract in 2026. The 6’4, 309-pound defender recorded a career-high 5.5 sacks last season.
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“(Benton will) definitely be playing some nose,” Peko clarified, but it might not be exclusive. “Like I said, he can play any position on the D-line. We’re gonna mix and match and see what’s best for him.”
Peko was asked what made Benton a strong candidate for 3-tech, 4i, or 5-tech. “I feel like he’s super stout and strong at the point of attack. But what really separates him is his quickness, man,” he said. “(Benton) has really good lateral quickness, and then as far as going from B to A or A gap to B gap, he’s really good with his movements — so that’s kind of the things that separate him from our other guys, is his ability to use his quickness and get on the edge of somebody pretty quickly, and win.”
However, in Yahya Black’s case, Peko went out of his way to talk about a potential switch to nose tackle. Black, a 2025 fifth-rounder, played in 17 games last year, starting three.
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“Black can be one of the best noses in the game if he just keeps on doing what he’s been doing, and us working his butt off,” Peko said. “Really good on his technique and his details. I just want to sharpen him up and get him really going, and try to bring out the best in him.”
Versatility was a common theme of Peko’s presser. The coach said it was an important element of free agent signing Sebastian Joseph-Day’s game as well.
“He’s super consistent,” Peko said of Joseph-Day. “He’s definitely a tool we’re going to be using this year because he plays it all. He plays D-end, he plays D-tackle, and he plays nose. And he’s been playing some good ball.”
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Still early in the offseason, the Steelers defense continues to take shape. But under new coordinator Patrick Graham, expect the product to look different in Week 1.
“A lot of the guys are buying into the new system,” Peko said. “Because anytime you get a new DC, it comes with a new system, new terminology, and all the guys seem to love the change.”
