He played college football at San Francisco State University and was selected in the eighth round of the 1958 NFL draft.

He was traded to the Detroit Lions for the 1963 season, where he replaced Alex Karras during the future Pro Football Hall of Famer's year-long gambling suspension by Commissioner Pete Rozelle.

[4] Peters was expendable after Karras' return, and was traded the following year to the Philadelphia Eagles along with future Pro Football Hall of Fame player Ollie Matson, for offensive tackle J.D.

[3] In the Eagles 1968 training camp, Peters had Eagles teammate Mark Nordquist (an offensive guard) work on pass rushing with Peters before morning practice and following afternoon practice, educating Nordquist on offensive technique in the process.

[1] Peters emphasized the importance of quarterback sacks as the defense's central focus in establishing dominance.

Peters died in Reno, Nevada, on August 8, 2008, of complications from Alzheimer's Disease.

Peters was survived by four sons (Craig, Allen, Dean and Kelly) and his wife of 51 years, Nancy.

[3] In 2014, Peters' estate joined a lawsuit filed by Dan Marino and other former players against the NFL for concussion related injuries.