The NFL announced a two-game suspension for DK Metcalf on Monday evening, almost exactly 24 hours after the Pittsburgh Steelers’ top wide receiver was involved in an altercation with a fan during a game at Detroit’s Ford Field.

Metcalf was suspended by the league “for conduct detrimental to the NFL for initiating a physical confrontation with a fan,” according to an NFL release.

The suspension will cost Metcalf the prorated portion of his base salary for the 2025 season, the first of a five-year, $150 million contract he signed with the Steelers after they acquired him a March trade.

The suspension runs through the end of the regular season, but Metcalf would be eligible to return if the Steelers make the playoffs. That date would be Jan. 5, the day after the Steelers’ regular-season finale at home against the Baltimore Ravens. He also will miss this coming Sunday’s game at the Cleveland Browns.

Per the terms of the league’s collective bargaining agreement with its players’ association, Metcalf has the right to appeal the suspension. Citing an unnamed source, ESPN reported Metcalf indeed plans to appeal.

The news of the suspension capped a day of various reports — and even a legal statement from a law firm — that gradually began to shed some light into the situation that occurred during the second quarter of the Steelers’ 29-24 victory at the Detroit Lions.

DK Metcalf with a fan: pic.twitter.com/iwD6BvzSOQ

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 21, 2025

Metcalf and the fan — who identified himself to the Detroit Free Press as Ryan Kennedy from Pinckney, Mich. — had an altercation in which Metcalf appeared to grab Kennedy by his shirt and shove upward at him as the fan bent over a railing atop a wall of about 8 feet behind the Steelers’ bench at Ford Field.

Yikes: A new angle just dropped of the DK Metcalf punching a Lions fan incident.

Expect a major fine and suspension from the NFL.

????????????pic.twitter.com/FUTJUE7pTK https://t.co/slXs9Ez7mS

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) December 22, 2025

Metcalf has not commented publicly, and he quickly left the visitors’ locker room following Sunday’s game. That made him unavailable to reporters.

When asked about the incident, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin provided no substantive details.

Metcalf’s side of the story, it seems, was told via the podcasts of two former prominent NFL players — ex-Steelers linebacker James Harrison and ex-Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco.

Each alleged that Kennedy used a racial slur directed toward Metcalf. Speaking on the “Deebo & Joe” show Harrison co-hosts with former Steelers teammate Joe Haden, Harrison cited a conversation he had with Metcalf. Ochocinco did not provide any detail on his source or where he acquired the information when he said on the “Nightcap” show he hosts with former NFL tight end Shannon Sharpe that Kennedy “did call (Metcalf) a racial slur — he did call him the N-word — and he did call his mom a (expletive).”

A statement released by a Michigan law firm representing Kennedy called Ochocinco’s allegations “completely false.”

“At no point before, during, or after the incident did Mr. Kennedy use racial slurs or hate speech of any kind,” read the statement released by Head Murphy Law to TribLive and other outlets. “The claims suggesting otherwise are untrue and are not supported by video evidence, eyewitness accounts, or any contemporaneous reporting.”

The statement suggests Kennedy will be taking legal action.

“Mr. Kennedy is a lifelong Detroit Lions football fan who attended the game lawfully and never anticipated becoming the subject of national attention, much less false accusations of racism,” the statement read. “He respects the game, the players, and fellow fans — and he rejects hate and discrimination in all forms.”

According to the NFL Network, Kennedy and Metcalf had an interaction during a game at Ford Field last season.

Metcalf “reported the same fan to Seahawks security last season while playing for Seattle,” NFL Network reported.

An offseason trade acquisition from Seattle, Metcalf and the Seahawks played at the Lions on Sept. 30, 2024.

Kennedy told The Free Press that Metcalf was irked when he referred to Metcalf by his given name, DeKaylin Zecharius Metcalf.

“He doesn’t like his government name,” Kennedy said when interviewed during the game. “I called him that, and then he grabbed me and ripped my shirt. I’m a little shocked. Like, everyone’s talking to me. I’m a little rattled, but I just want the Lions to win, baby.”

Metcalf has been listed on rosters as “DK” since he was a star in college. He has told Steelers Audio Network play-by-play announcer Rob King that he prefers “DeKaylin” but understands many do not pronounce it correctly so he instead goes by “DK.”

Because he was not flagged for the incident by on-field officials, Metcalf could not be ejected from Sunday’s game or subjected to penalty affecting it.

Through a spokesperson, the team said Tomlin will provide the lone public words on behalf of the organization. Tomlin’s weekly news conference is scheduled for noon Tuesday.

In announcing the suspension, the NFL’s statement read: “Metcalf’s actions violate league policy, which specifies that ‘players may not enter the stands or otherwise confront fans at any time on game day and … if a player makes unnecessary physical contact with a fan in any way that constitutes unsportsmanlike conduct or presents crowd-control issues and/or risk of injury, he will be held accountable.’ ”

The Steelers (9-6) need one win over their final two games — or a Ravens loss at the Green Bay Packers on Saturday — to clinch the AFC North title for the first time since 2020.

A two-time Pro Bowl honoree with the Seattle Seahawks, the 28-year-old Metcalf has more than twice as many receiving yards (850) as any other player on the Steelers. His eight touchdowns are tied for second on the team.

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