Lions fan involved in altercation with Steelers star denies using racial slurs

The Detroit Lions instrumentality who was progressive successful the altercation with Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf, Ryan Kennedy, held a property league connected Friday and said helium did not usage immoderate radical slurs toward Metcalf. 

Kennedy said helium did not usage immoderate radical slurs oregon hatred code connected Sunday, and that helium has ne'er done truthful successful his 15 years arsenic a play summons holder. 

"It is truly hard to get maine upset, but there’s 2 things — carnal abuse, racism – similar I get hot, close away. Like I tin consciousness my look gets each warm, truthful I conjecture I privation to beryllium crystal wide astir 1 thing: I didn’t usage immoderate radical slurs, nary hatred speech, nary of that worldly astatine the game. Actually, never, a 15-year season-ticket holder for the Lions, I’ve ne'er done that, astatine all." Kennedy said astatine his property conference. 

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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf (4) during the NFL crippled betwixt the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Los Angeles Chargers astatine SoFi Stadium successful Inglewood, California, connected Nov. 9, 2025. (Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire)

Kennedy said that his household had received threats and asked for Metcalf to authorities that helium did not usage immoderate radical slurs toward the Steelers star. Kennedy referred to Metcalf arsenic DeKaylin, his existent name, alternatively of his wide utilized nickname, DK, astatine the property conference. 

"DeKaylin, if you’re watching this man, just, if you could conscionable accidental that, please. My household is getting threats and stuff, it’s not cool. So whether you said that oregon not, I’m definite you didn’t privation that to hap to the family, adjacent if you did, similar I forgive you man. That’s each I got, spell Lions," Kennedy said. 

NFL UPHOLDS SUSPENSION FOR STEELERS STAR DK METCALF

Pittsburgh Steelers' DK Metcalf sits connected the seat during the 2nd fractional of an NFL shot crippled against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, successful Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)

Metcalf has not publically spoken astir the altercation. He was suspended for 2 games by the NFL for throwing a punch astatine Kennedy. Multiple reports indicated that radical slurs were hurled astatine him, which sparked the indication.

Metcalf was shown by the CBS broadcast grabbing a instrumentality by the garment and taking a plaything astatine him. 

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Kennedy told the Detroit Free Press that helium was heckling Metcalf by calling him by his afloat name.

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