Pittsburgh Steelers star wide receiver DK Metcalf was seen taking a swing at a Detroit Lions fan in the middle of Sunday’s win at Ford Field.
CBS cameras caught Metcalf jawing with the fan in the second quarter before reaching upwards and appearing to grab the blue wig the man was wearing. Before the two untangled, Metcalf lunged upwards with his right arm, narrowly missing the man’s face.
CBS commentator Jim Nantz remarked: ‘That is not going to have great consequences for the Steelers and Metcalf.’
It’s not clear what happened in the moments prior to this exchange.
The broadcast later said the NFL planned to address the incident at a later date. Metcalf was not tossed from the game. In a statement to the Detroit Free Press, a league spokesperson said officials could not eject Metcalf in that situation: ‘There was no flag on the field, so [the league office in New York] cannot weigh in with regard to a potential disqualification.’
ESPN’s Kimberly Martin approached Metcalf in the locker room afterwards, but the veteran receiver did not respond to her question about the incident.
Pittsburgh Steelers star DK Metcalf appeared to take a swing at a Detroit Lions fan on Sunday
The fan told the Free Press that he used Metcalf’s ‘government name’ which he ‘doesn’t like’
A reporter for the Detroit Free Press did track down the fan down, who said he was ‘a little shocked’ about the situation.
‘Like everyone’s talking to me,’ he told the Detroit Free Press before the final whistle. ‘I’m a little rattled, but I just want the Lions to win, baby.’
The fan, who was identified in the paper as Ryan Kennedy, said he called Metcalf by his full name – or, as he called it, his ‘government name.’
‘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.’
Kennedy added: ‘My words don’t matter because it was on camera.’
The Free Press reported that the Lions threw the fan out of the game, adding that officials from the team were speaking to Kennedy about the incident.
NFL on CBS sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson said Metcalf came over because Kennedy ‘was holding a “4” Pittsburgh jersey, he went over and the fan said something to him.’
Wolfson added, ‘Obviously, Metcalf did not like what he said and you saw the swipe there. No Steelers came over to him and mentioned anything, we’ll see if the league takes action.’
Metcalf finished with four catches for 42 yards on Sunday.