NFL upholds suspension for Steelers star DK Metcalf

The NFL upheld the two-game suspension for Pittsburgh Steelers prima DK Metcalf connected Wednesday.

The league suspended the wide receiver aft helium took a plaything astatine a Detroit Lions instrumentality during a crippled connected Sunday. 

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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)

The NFL said connected Monday that Metcalf’s actions violated league policy, which states that "players whitethorn not participate the stands oregon different face fans astatine immoderate clip connected crippled time and…if a subordinate makes unnecessary carnal interaction with a instrumentality successful immoderate mode that constitutes unsportsmanlike behaviour oregon presents crowd-control issues and/or hazard of injury, helium volition beryllium held accountable."

Ryan Kennedy, the Lions instrumentality who was connected the receiving extremity of Metcalf’s swing, was accused of hurling derogatory connection toward the NFL player. However, helium denied utilizing immoderate hatred speech.

Kennedy released a connection done Head Murphy Law in Michigan, denying accusations that helium utilized the "N-word," "C-word" oregon "any racial, misogynistic, oregon hate-based slur toward Metcalf." Kennedy’s reps called the allegations "completely false."

"At nary constituent before, during oregon aft the incidental did Mr. Kennedy usage radical slurs oregon hatred code of immoderate kind," the connection read. "The claims suggesting different are untrue and are not supported by video evidence, eyewitness accounts, oregon immoderate contemporaneous reporting. Despite reports successful the media past nighttime and today, Mr. Kennedy has not utilized specified connection during an enactment with Mr. Metcalf oregon immoderate different players successful the past.

DK Metcalf #4 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks connected during the crippled against the Detroit Lions astatine Ford Field connected Dec. 21, 2025 successful Detroit, Michigan. (Nic Antaya/Getty Images)

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"Since these mendacious statements began circulating publicity, Mr. Kennedy has been subjected to harassment, threats, and messages advocating violence, creating superior interest for his and his family’s idiosyncratic information and well-being. No backstage idiosyncratic should beryllium falsely branded with specified accusations oregon exposed to threats based connected misinformation."

The connection said Kennedy volition person nary further remark as legal proceedings are anticipated.

Metcalf hasn’t spoken astir the incident, but helium received enactment from caput manager Mike Tomlin connected Tuesday.

"He did explicate to maine wherefore helium did what helium did, and I surely don’t condone the behavior, but I enactment DK. And I truly don’t person a batch to adhd different than what I conscionable told you," helium said.

Metcalf was spotted by CBS cameras confronting the fan, who was adjacent the obstruction connected the Steelers’ sideline. He pulled the fan’s garment and took a plaything astatine the antheral who was wearing a achromatic and bluish garment and a bluish wig.

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The antheral told the Detroit Free Press that Metcalf was upset that helium called the wide receiver by his afloat name.

Fox News’ Ryan Canfield contributed to this report.

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