Lions fan shoved by DK Metcalf cleared by NFL with rivals furious at ‘crazy’ verdict after $45million decision

DK Metcalf will sit out the final two games of the NFL season after he violated league policy in an altercation with a Detroit Lions fan.

During Sunday’s Week 16 game, the Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver approached a male spectator in the front row at Ford Field, and footage showed him grabbing the man by the shirt and swiping up at him.

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Videos of the altercation quickly went viral, and while it was unclear if Metcalf struck the fan, he has been handed a hefty punishment.

The Steelers star has been suspended for the last two games of the 2025 regular season, and will not play against the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens.

He will forfeit $555,556 in salary and according to CBS Sports, which reviewed Metcalf’s contract, the suspension also voids a massive $45million in future guaranteed money.

The fan involved in the altercation, meanwhile, has escaped without punishment.

NFL confirms no punishment for Lions fan after incident with Steelers star

According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the league and the Lions will not take action against the spectator, because they found ‘no violation of the fan code of conduct’ during the Week 16 game.

Once news of the decision was confirmed on Tuesday evening, many took to social media to share surprise over the lack of repercussions for the Lions fan, with some arguing a ‘precedent’ has been set.

“Oh that is bull c***. That fan knew what he was doing,” one wrote on X, responding to Pelissero’s post.

“The precedent has been set go and harass the opposing sideline all you want fans, doesn’t matter what you say or do, the NFL will side with you,” another said.

“Well, I’ll never root for the Lions again. Apparently it’s OK to act like a complete a****** in their stadium,” a third wrote.

“It’s kinda crazy that there’s now precedent to go to an NFL stadium with the intent to start an altercation and that be considered within the realms of normal fan conduct,” a fourth said.

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“That’s wild, fan gets a free pass? League’s soft on this stuff,” a fifth concluded.

What sparked the incident between Metcalf and Lions fan?

Much has been said of the clash between Metcalf and a spectator in the days that followed Pittsburgh’s dramatic 29-24 win over Detroit at Ford Field.

The fan was identified by The Detroit Free Press as Ryan Kennedy, and on Monday, Pelissero revealed the pair have history.

Metcalf apparently reported the same fan to Seattle team security last season when he was with the Seahawks. He played at the Lions in Week 4 of the 2024 season, and also in 2022 and 2023.

Pelissero reported after Sunday’s incident that a source close to the NFL star told him Kennedy called Metcalf’s mother a ‘derogatory word’ and also called Metcalf ‘something we both know you don’t call a Black man.’

Former wide receiver Chad Johnson also claimed the fan used a racial slur as he discussed the incident with Nightcap co-host Shannon Sharpe.

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Kennedy has issued a statement through an attorney in response to those claims.

“Ryan Kennedy categorically denies using the ‘N-word,’ the ‘C-word,’ or any racial, misogynistic, or hate-based slur during the incident that occurred on Dec. 21, 2025 at Ford Field during the Pittsburgh Steelers-Detroit Lions game,” the statement read.

“These allegations are completely false.”

Kennedy told the Detroit Free Press that he called Metcalf by his full name — DeKaylin Zecharius Metcalf — and that prompted the interaction.

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