The National Football League has suspended Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf two games without pay for physical confrontation he had with fan during the Steelers’ 29-24 win over the Detroit Lions at Ford Field.
The incident occurred in the second quarter of the contest. While the Lions’ offense was on the field, Metcalf approached a fan wearing a blue wig and sitting in the front row.
After exchanging words with the fan, Metcalf appeared to throw a punch at the fan’s head. It was unclear whether the punch connected.
DK Metcalf’s actions violate league policy, which specifies that “players may not enter the stands or otherwise confront fans at any time on game day and…if a player makes unnecessary physical contact with a fan in any way that constitutes unsportsmanlike conduct or presents crowd-control issues and/or risk of injury, he will be held accountable.”
The fan was ejected from the game, per the Detroit Free Press. The fan claimed Metcalf threw a punch because the fan taunted the wideout with his full name, DeKaylin Zecharius.
On Monday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported that the fan used a derogatory term at Metcalf about his mother. Peliserro also added that the fan called Metcalf, “something we both know you don’t call a Black man.” The fan denied all of this.
Metcalf will appeal the suspension. If upheld, he will miss the Browns game in Week 17 and the Steelers game in Week 18.
