DETROIT — Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf appeared to extend his arm harshly in a punch-like manner toward the face of a fan he was speaking to during the first half of Sunday’s game at the Detroit Lions.
As shown on a replay during the CBS broadcast of the Steelers’ 29-24 win, Metcalf was engaging with a fan who was in the front row of seating behind the Steelers’ sideline and bench at Ford Field. The fan, who was wearing a blue wig, was bending over to speak with Metcalf from the top of the railing atop a wall of about 8 feet.
The man was pulled down by Metcalf, who appeared to angrily push back up at him before releasing him.
DK Metcalf with a fan: pic.twitter.com/iwD6BvzSOQ
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 21, 2025
After the game, Metcalf swiftly left the Steelers locker room just as it was being opened to media and therefore was unavailable for comment.
Multiple Steelers players asked by TribLive if they saw the incident said they had not.
Coach Mike Tomlin said he was aware of Metcalf’s actions — but said he did not know when he was made aware of them — but was relatively mum on the situation.
“I heard about it, but I hadn’t seen it,” Tomlin said in his postgame news conference. “And I hadn’t had an opportunity to talk to DK, and so I have no comment.”
Metcalf is in his first season with the Steelers, having been acquired for a second-round pick from the Seattle Seahawks in March. He signed a five-year, $150 million deal with the Steelers and leads the team in receiving yards with 850 and overall touchdowns with seven.
After having just one catch for 5 yards over six targets in the first half, Metcalf finished the game with four catches for 42 yards.
Yikes: A new angle just dropped of the DK Metcalf punching a Lions fan incident.
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) December 22, 2025
Expect a major fine and suspension from the NFL.
????????????pic.twitter.com/FUTJUE7pTK https://t.co/slXs9Ez7mS
CBS rules analyst Gene Steratore said on the television broadcast that because officials did not see the incident occur, it is not something they can weigh in on from an officiating standpoint. He said he was notified it will be “delivered to compliance with the NFL, and they will address it at that point.”
According to a league source, the NFL is looking into the incident but cannot from the league level instruct officials to penalize or eject a player during a game for a sequence in which no flag was thrown.
CBS sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson said the fan held a No. 4 black-and-yellow shirt (Metcalf’s uniform number).
A report from the Detroit Free Press identified the fan as Ryan Kennedy from Pinckney, Mich. Kennedy told the outlet that he referred to Metcalf by his full name — DeKaylin Zecharius Metcalf.
“He doesn’t like his government name,” Kennedy said. “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 at Ole Miss. Earlier this season, Steelers Audio Network play-by-play announcer Rob King referred to Metcalf as “DeKaylin” after a Metcalf touchdown.
King has multiple times said publicly that he asked Metcalf what he preferred to be called, and Metcalf told him he preferred “DeKaylin” but that people mispronounced it so often that he has decided to go with “DK.”
It was 21 years ago last month that arguably the most infamous instance of a player/fan altercation in North American sports history took place just a half-hour drive northwest from Ford Field. The so-called “Malice at the Palace” was ignited after a player scuffle late in an NBA game between the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills arena on Nov. 19, 2004.
The NBA suspended nine players in the wake.
In June, Pirates relief pitcher Dennis Santana also had an altercation with a fan in Detroit during Game 2 of a doubleheader against the host Tigers at Comerica Park.
Santana was filmed attempting to leap up and swipe at a fan from the bullpen.
According to the Associated Press, Santana said the fan crossed the line.
“You guys know me — I’m a calm demeanor type of person,” Santana said after the game through an interpreter. “I’ve never had any issues for any of the teams I’ve played for. This guy crossed the line a few times.”
Santana declined to disclose what the fan said.
Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Dennis Santana SWUNG on a Detroit Tigers fan in the bullpen ????
via @_shadky pic.twitter.com/h5qa4noeWp
After he was struck by Metcalf, Kennedy raised his arms in apparent jubilee.
“My words don’t matter,” Kennedy told the Free Press, “because it was on camera.”
