Jordan Peterson just couldn't resist the call to come home.
The 36-year-old was elevated to Kansas's Co-Defensive Coordinator role at the conclusion of the 2023 regular season. As defensive backs coach, Peterson mentored two-time All-Big 12 First Team cornerback Cobee Bryant and honorable mention all-conference pick Mello Dotson while finishing as the Big 12's No.1-ranked recruiter for the 2024 cycle. But those efforts didn't just catch the Jayhawks' eye. Mike Elko noticed too.
TexAgs executive editor Billy Liucci reported Saturday Peterson would return to Texas A&M as safeties coach, where he recorded 81 tackles and 15 pass breakups in a four-year playing career. On Monday, the University announced Peterson would join Jay Bateman as co-DC.
Peterson's enjoyed a steady upward climb through the coaching ranks. He served as a graduate assistant at Texas A&M for the 2010 and 2011 seasons before moving to secondaries coach at Fresno State, where the Bulldogs ranked second nationally in pass defense in 2012. He earned his first defensive coordinator gig at New Mexico in 2019, then helped resurrect Kansas's football program on Lance Leipold's staff.
Peterson inherits a secondary that brought in eight transfers, most notably cornerbacks Dezz RIcks from Alabama and Will Lee III from Kansas State.
This article is available to our Digital Subscribers.
Click "Subscribe Now" to see a list of subscription offers.
Already a Subscriber? Sign In to access this content.