SportsBuffalo Bills

Actions

Bills DT Kyle Peko reports to camp while wife battles cancer

Posted at 1:49 PM, Jul 26, 2019
and last updated 2019-07-26 13:52:50-04

PITTSFORD, NY — Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Kyle Peko knows he needs to be strong for his family while his wife, Giuliana, continues her battle with Stage III Hodgkin's Lymphoma. On Friday Peko returned to Bills training camp, rejoining his teammates after missing the first day of practice to be with his family.

"My wife is strong, she's a fighter," Peko said. "I need to be strong for her and my kids when she can't be so I need to be the rock here as much as I can while she's back there taking care of business."

Peko, who has been married to Giuliana for nearly five years said it was his wife's idea for him to join his teammates at practice, rather than staying home.

"This is how I support my family, this is the way I take care of her and my kids," Peko said. "As a husband and a man, it's my obligation to be there for my family and you're right it's crazy that I'm here but she wouldn't have it no other way."

“I think it's admirable to be in the shape that he's in physically with all that his family is going through," Sean McDermott said. "This is where the rubber meets the row. They're all human and they go through things that we all do."

Peko says the support from his teammates has been tremendous and he appreciates the understanding from the coaching staff and front office.

Peko spent his first three years in the NFL with the Denver Broncos. Last season, Peko joined the Bills’ practice squad and was re-signed by Buffalo to a reserve-future contract.