Brooke PryorDec 23, 2025, 07:42 PM ETCloseBrooke Pryor is a reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN who has covered the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2019. She previously covered the Kansas City Chiefs for the Kansas City Star and the University of Oklahoma for The Oklahoman.Follow on X
Spears: Metcalf’s suspension should’ve ‘absolutely’ been upheld (2:07)Marcus Spears breaks down why he concurs with DK Metcalf’s suspension from different standpoints following a fan altercation. (2:07)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf will sit out the final two games of the regular season after his suspension for violating league policy in an altercation with a fan in Detroit on Sunday was upheld on appeal.
Metcalf will forfeit $555,556 in salary. The suspension also voids $45 million in future guaranteed money, according to his contract, which was reviewed by CBS Sports and ESPN.
According to the NFL on Wednesday, the matter as it relates to the fan’s actions is still under review. Based on information disclosed by Metcalf at the appeal hearing, the NFL will be in touch with the Lions regarding the fan code of conduct. The Lions had said on Tuesday that the fan, Ryan Kennedy, would not face any discipline from the team.
“He did explain to me why he did what he did. And I certainly don’t condone the behavior, but I support DK,” Tomlin said. “And I really don’t have a lot to add other than what I just told you.”
In a statement released by a Michigan law firm Monday, Kennedy denied he used a racial slur, “misogynistic, or hate-based language during the incident,” as some reports on social media suggested.
Several videos of the interaction were posted to social media in the days since the game, including one that appeared to show Kennedy saying, “That was the goal, folks,” after the altercation.
Metcalf previously reported the fan to Seahawks security following a previous interaction when he played for Seattle in Detroit, a source confirmed to ESPN.
Though Tomlin said he didn’t condone Metcalf’s reaction, the coach said the receiver’s day-to-day actions made him “easy to support.”
“He’s been great,” Tomlin said Tuesday. “He cares. He works hard. He’s a heck of a guy. He’s a good teammate, and that’s why he’s easy to support.”
“I just think volatile rhetoric is a component of our business today, unfortunately,” he said. “It just is. But not only our business, college, youth sport parents. I think it’s just a component of sport that’s developed, and developed in a big way in recent years, and it’s unfortunate.”
With Metcalf now sidelined and wide receiver Calvin Austin III dealing with a hamstring injury, the Steelers probably will look to second-year wide receiver Roman Wilson to have an increased role in the final two games. Wilson, a 2024 third-round pick, has been a healthy scratch the past three games since the additions of veteran wide receivers Adam Thielen and Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
“One man’s misfortune is another man’s opportunity,” Tomlin said. “… I’m excited what this opportunity might mean for [Wilson] to display growth in the midst of a time where he hadn’t been participating, to show his professionalism and his readiness and how he’s been sharpening his sword for battle in the ranks while he hadn’t been playing.
“You can waste a lot of time pining for those that you don’t have. As a leader, I think it’s my job to work and prepare those that I do have and position them to live out their dreams and be positive contributors to a winning effort.”
The Steelers can clinch the AFC North this weekend, either with a loss by the Ravens to the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night or with a win over the Browns on Sunday.
Spears: Metcalf’s suspension should’ve ‘absolutely’ been upheld (2:07)Marcus Spears breaks down why he concurs with DK Metcalf’s suspension from different standpoints following a fan altercation. (2:07)
Marcus Spears breaks down why he concurs with DK Metcalf’s suspension from different standpoints following a fan altercation. (2:07)
CloseBrooke Pryor is a reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN who has covered the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2019. She previously covered the Kansas City Chiefs for the Kansas City Star and the University of Oklahoma for The Oklahoman.Follow on X
He will sit out games at Cleveland and against Baltimore in Weeks 17 and 18, respectively.
Tomlin added that he has tried to prepare players for dealing with fans using “volatile rhetoric.”