Steelers star DK Metcalf will not face criminal charges for viral altercation with Lions fan

The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office announced connected Friday that Pittsburgh Steelers prima wide receiver DK Metcalf volition not beryllium charged for an altercation with a Detroit Lions instrumentality astatine Ford Field successful December.

The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office besides denied a petition for a warrant.

"On December 21, 2025, during an NFL shot crippled astatine Ford Field, located successful the 2000 artifact of Brush Street successful Detroit, a 45-year-old male Lions fan, was seated successful the stands down the Pittsburgh Steelers' bench, allegedly heckling subordinate DeKaylin Metcalf, 28. At astir 5:30 p.m., it is alleged that the instrumentality near his spot holding a Metcalf’s jersey to get an autograph," the announcement said.

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DK Metcalf of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks connected earlier an NFL preseason crippled against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers astatine Acrisure Stadium successful Pittsburgh, Pa., connected Aug. 16, 2025. (Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

"As helium approached the beforehand railing of the stands, he said thing to Mr. Metcalf. As Mr. Metcalf approached the stands, there was a little enactment wherever Mr. Metcalf grabbed his garment and pushed him back. The instrumentality did not look to beryllium injured, nor did helium question aesculapian attraction astatine the game."

The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office said the fan, Ryan Kennedy, information staff, and radical successful attendance were each interviewed, on with video footage from assorted angles. After an extended review, it opted not to complaint Metcalf.

Kennedy filed a $100 cardinal suit that names Metcalf, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Ford Field, the Lions’ stadium, Chad Johnson and Shannon Sharpe.

The filing outlines 9 counts, including negligence against Ford Field and aggregate defamation claims against Metcalf, Johnson and Sharpe's Shay Shay Media.

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Detroit Lions instrumentality Ryan Kennedy holds a property league astatine the Head Murphy Law bureau successful Farmington Hills, Mich., connected Dec. 26, 2025, discussing the fan-involved altercation with Pittsburgh Steelers subordinate DK Metcalf. (Ryan Garza/USA TODAY NETWORK)

Kennedy’s lawyer, Jon Marko, told Fox News Digital that the deficiency of transgression charges for Metcalf is irrelevant for their civilian case. He cited the prosecutor’s deficiency of resources for not charging Metcalf.

"The prosecutor's determination is wholly irrelevant to our case, our civilian case. You know, prosecutors’ offices, particularly engaged prosecutors’ bureau and large metropolitan areas similar Detroit, person priorities erstwhile making charging decisions, and they person a precise constricted magnitude of resources that they tin use, and they usage those resources to spell aft the astir egregious crimes, specified arsenic homicides and things of that nature. I mean, successful this case, clearly, the video shows what I judge to beryllium an battle and battery, immoderate tenable idiosyncratic looking astatine it, I think, would spot the aforesaid thing," Marko told Fox News Digital.

"This was retired successful public. There was galore witnesses, and it was connected a video, but I deliberation that conscionable the disbursal and resources indispensable to prosecute this misdemeanor battle and artillery that was astir apt what led the prosecutor's bureau to determine not to charge, not the thought that the transgression did not commit, was not committed. So, it's irrelevant for america whether the authoritative charged oregon not, we're gonna inactive beryllium seeking afloat justness for the battle and artillery done our civilian case."

Mitch Schuster of Meister Seelig & Schuster, the lawyer for Metcalf, applauded the determination to driblet the transgression charges.

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

"The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office has declined to bring charges against DeKaylin Metcalf related to the incidental involving Ryan Kennedy connected December 21, 2025. We applaud the determination and are thankful for the hard enactment and thorough probe that led to this conscionable result.

 "We are assured that justness volition besides prevail successful the civilian assertion involving Mr. Kennedy. As Mr. Metcalf’s counterclaim successful the civilian lawsuit makes clear, Mr. Kennedy’s hate-fueled behaviour has nary spot anywhere, and particularly not successful nonrecreational sports."

Metcalf was suspended 2 games by the NFL for the incident.

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Detroit Lions instrumentality Ryan Kennedy sits with attorneys Sean Murphy and Shawn Head astatine the Head Murphy Law bureau successful Farmington Hills, Mich., connected Dec. 26, 2025, discussing the fan-involved altercation with Pittsburgh Steelers subordinate DK Metcalf. (Ryan Garza/USA TODAY NETWORK)

Metcalf was shown by the CBS broadcast grabbing a instrumentality by the garment and taking a plaything astatine him. NFL Network reported that the instrumentality made derogatory comments toward the 28-year-old. Kennedy aboriginal denied the allegation.

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

Fox News Digital reached retired to Metcalf's cause for comment, but did not instantly perceive back.

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