photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World photo

Kansas defensive backs coach Jordan Peterson, center in black with white hat, yells instructions to the defense during a drill at spring practice on Thursday, March 30, 2023 at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.

During his tenure at Kansas, which spanned two different coaching staffs and several roles across four seasons, Jordan Peterson had the opportunity to fill in as acting defensive coordinator on a pair of occasions.

Once, he took over for D.J. Eliot due to COVID-19 late in the winless 2020 season; later, he stepped in for Brian Borland in the 2023 season opener while Borland was undergoing a medical procedure.

Now, the Jayhawks will have to go up against a defense that is all Peterson’s own. After leaving KU for Texas A&M in January 2024, Peterson followed A&M’s then-offensive coordinator Collin Klein to Kansas State in December 2025. With Klein as the Wildcats’ head coach, Peterson serves as the defensive coordinator.

“They play with a lot of energy,” head coach Lance Leipold said. “Very multiple in what he does. Jordan Peterson’s an excellent football coach. Have a lot of respect for him, he and his family and what he’s about. Didn’t surprise me that Collin brought him along from A&M with him, so I’m sure he’ll have his side of the ball well prepared for Saturday’s game.”

Peterson’s highest title at KU was co-defensive coordinator, one he received shortly after the 2023 season, and not long before he left for the job at his alma mater. The native of Lexington, Texas, played for the Aggies, then started his coaching career at A&M before moving on to Fresno State and New Mexico. His first experience as a coordinator was with the Lobos in the 2019 season before he made the move to KU.

During his time working with the cornerbacks in Lawrence, Peterson oversaw the development of Cobee Bryant and Mello Dotson, both of whom excelled for the Jayhawks and went on to the NFL. He also helped establish a short-lived pipeline to Arizona that got KU some highly touted players out of Desert Edge High School in the class of 2024, although all three have since transferred, DJ Warner following the 2024 season and Aundre Gibson and Jon Jon Kamara after 2025. When Peterson left, he was replaced by D.K. McDonald, who got promoted to defensive coordinator the following year.

Peterson’s KSU defense is off to an odd start. The Wildcats held three early-season nonconference opponents to a combined 30 points before losing one Big 12 game in which they allowed Cincinnati to rush for 271 yards and then another in which Houston rushed for 233. The Cougars’ quarterback Connor Weigman also threw four touchdowns, all to tight end Patrick Overmyer. K-State now ranks as a middling Big 12 defense because it allows the fewest passing yards and second-most rushing yards.

KU associate head coach Andy Kotelnicki will have to match wits with Peterson during this weekend’s Sunflower Showdown (with kickoff set for 11 a.m. in Manhattan). Kotelnicki said that “what’s on film right now is what it’s about,” but there’s still an unique element to facing off against someone with whom he has shared meeting rooms.

“It’s kind of cool to line up against somebody that was in the room with you, to kind of look back and reflect on things that he’s thought about or talked about,” Kotelnicki said. “He’s doing the same thing, I’m sure, (with) things he remembers at practice, and so there’s a history there, and you got to digest that information, figure out what of it’s good.”

While the execution comes down to “11 dudes on offense, 11 dudes on defense,” Kotelnicki said that whether it’s someone you coached with or simply against for a long time, there can be a psychological component at play “when you know people, when you have history with people.”

“I’m happy for him, OK, because I think he’s a fantastic dude,” Kotelnicki said. “He does a great job as a coach. He’s been here. Him and other guys on that staff, I got a lot of respect for, I’ve gotten to know through the years in different stops, different places — you stay in touch with people, including Collin.”

KU left tackle Calvin Clements, one of the few Jayhawks still on the roster from Peterson’s time in Lawrence, also regards Peterson fondly: “I think he’s a great coach,” Clements said. “I think he runs a great operation. I got a lot of respect for that guy.”

Peterson isn’t the only participant in this year’s Sunflower Showdown to have crossed rivalry lines. Running back Dylan Edwards transferred from K-State to KU after last season. And KSU’s director of recruiting Greg Svarczkopf held the same position at KU prior to this year.