The NFL's commissioner designee Chris Palmer upheld Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf's two-game suspension on Tuesday, NFL senior vice president of football and international communications Michael Signora announced.
The league on Monday suspended Metcalf for "initiating a physical confrontation with a fan" during Sunday’s game at the Detroit Lions.
Metcalf will now miss the final two games of the regular season: Week 17 against the Cleveland Browns and Week 18 against the Baltimore Ravens.
Metcalf will forfeit more than $500,000 for the two games missed and his suspension voids $45 million in guarantees, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported. The Steelers have reaffirmed their commitment to Metcalf for 2026 and beyond, however, Pelissero added.
As for the fan involved in the altercation, a man whom the Detroit Free Press identified a Ryan Kennedy, will not face any punitive action from the NFL or the Lions, Pelissero reported, as "there was no violation of the fan code of conduct.
The Steelers WR will be eligible to return to the team for a potential wild-card playoff game should the Steelers advance to the postseason. Pittsburgh currently holds a two-game lead over the Ravens in the AFC North standings. The Steelers will clinch the division title with either one win or one loss from the Ravens over the next two weeks.
Based on the terms of the four-year, $132 million extension Metcalf signed with the Steelers, the two-game suspension for conduct detrimental would allow the Steelers, if they choose, to void not just the rest of his salary for this season but $45 million in future guarantees, $25 million fully guaranteed in 2026 and $20 million in a 2027 injury guarantee, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported on Tuesday morning.
Video showed Metcalf approaching a male fan wearing a blue wig in the front row at Ford Field, grabbing him by the shirt and then swiping upward. It was unclear if Metcalf struck the fan.
The incident occurred during the Steelers' 29-24 win, but as Metcalf was not flagged for the incident, which took place off the field of play, he was not ejected.
NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported on Monday that Metcalf and Kennedy, have a history. Per Pelissero, Metcalf reported the same fan to Seahawks security last season when he played for Seattle.
A source close to Metcalf told Pelissero that Kennedy on Sunday called Metcalf and Metcalf's mother a derogatory word.
On Monday, Kennedy issued a statement through an attorney that "at no point before, during, or after the incident did Mr. Kennedy use racial slurs or hate speech of any kind." Kennedy told the Free Press on Sunday that Metcalf was upset that he used his full legal name.
"He did explain to me why he did what he did," Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin told reporters on Tuesday prior to the news of the appeal. "I certainly don't condone the behavior, but I support DK."
Metcalf finished the game with four receptions for 42 yards and has 59 catches for 850 yards and six touchdowns in his first year with the Steelers.
