Posted on 12/22/2025 12:55:15 PM PST by nickcarraway
Ryan Kennedy, the Detroit Lions fan involved in the altercation with Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf on Sunday, "categorically denies using the 'N-word,' the 'C-word' or any racial, misogynistic, or hate-based language during the incident," according to a statement released by a Michigan law firm Monday afternoon.
"These allegations are completely false," the statement released by Shawn Head and Sean Murphy of Head Murphy Law Firm reads.
The statement also said that Kennedy has experienced "harassment, threats and messages advocating violence" since reports began circulating on social media that Kennedy used a racial slur toward Metcalf and called Metcalf's mother an inflammatory word.
Metcalf, who played for the Seattle Seahawks before being traded to the Steelers this year, reported Kennedy to Seattle team security in the past, a source confirmed to ESPN's Brady Henderson. The Seahawks played at Detroit in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
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"I got word -- obviously, I'm not condoning putting your hands on a fan or punching a fan -- but he did call him a racial slur," Johnson said. "He called him the N-word and he did call his mom a c--t. I think, with those words being exchanged and the fan saying that, I think that's where the action occurred.
"That's a bad combination [of words] ... and it caused DK to react. I'm sure he will have to deal with some type of discipline. You know how the NFL is. No matter what's said, they want you to be able to control yourself in that situation, but I understand."
Kennedy, however, told the Detroit Free Press on Sunday that he called Metcalf by his full name -- DeKaylin Zecharius Metcalf -- and that prompted the interaction where Metcalf walked over to the fan, who was in the front row of the stands at Ford Field, and grabbed him by his shirt collar. Metcalf then forcefully released Kennedy, shoving him back.
"I called him that, and then he grabbed me and ripped my shirt," Kennedy told the Free Press. "I'm a little shocked. Like everyone's talking to me. I'm a little rattled, but I just want the Lions to win, baby."
The fan was not removed from the game, the Lions told the Free Press.
Asked about the altercation after the game, Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin said: "I heard about it, but I hadn't seen it, and I hadn't had an opportunity to talk to DK, and so I have no comment."
The CBS broadcast showed Metcalf talking to the fan, who was in a blue wig and hanging over the first-row railing.
"He came over because the fan in the stands was holding a '4' Pittsburgh jersey, he went over, and the fan said something to him," CBS sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson said on the broadcast. "Obviously, Metcalf did not like what he said, and you saw the swipe there. No Steelers came over to him and mentioned anything."
Multi million dollar sportsball contract and you jeopardize it because you can’t control yourself due to words.
Not smart.
You would think there would be video.
I guess the two hardest things to catch on video in the world are UFOs and racial slurs.
There is video. But it’s just video of a guy leaning in close to Metcalf and Metcalf hitting him. There’s no audio. Frankly if the guy said those things he deserved a full on beating. People need to grow up.
Once upon a time people understood that you just didn’t say certain things without being prepared to get beat. Sadly that part of the world has changed. Now jackasses say whatever they want with no fear of reprisal. The beat down was the tool of a polite society, we need it back.
I agree. But who are you going to believe-an overpaid, emotionally frangible professional, or a drunken opposing fan?
Choices.
(This question is completely rhetorical-I don’t know if the athlete in question is overpaid, emotionally frangible person, or if the opposing fan was drunk)
Not buying the accusation. I still remember when Reginald Denny got beaten half to death, they stuffed the N Word into his mouth, ex post facto, to justify the outcome.
Metcalf has never had disciplinary issues, says he’s born again, and when an ESPN announcer screwed up him name (called him Decaf Metcalf) he leveraged that into donations to a prison fellowship program.
Now I will blame him for going over. My instinct says in Detroit when a guy in a Detroit jersey wearing a Detroit colored wig leans over with a sign that says “Pittsburgh #4” you should smell a trap. But he’s a nice guy, until yesterday I don’t think he thought that way.
There is a video. The brothers and sisters always claim someone white called them the N word.
I don’t believe the instigator at all. Dollars to doughnuts Metcalf’s version is the truth.
I was a 50 year rabid NFL fan, and stopped watching after the kneeling thing. I don’t fault people who watch. It is a personal decision. I do watch with my best friend, but am no longer emotionally invested in it, which is a good thing for me.
So I admit I don’t know the player and my rhetorical comment was meant not specifically to insult either the player or the fan.
I do know a lot of NFL players are stand up people. I was just being a bit cynical...
If you attend ghetto sport events, don’t complain if you get ghettoed...
If the guy called him a slur, don’t care. If Metcalf clocked him, don’t care.
WTF is a guy so distracted he isn’t paying attention to the game. He isn’t a serious player………
“”Metcalf, who played for the Seattle Seahawks before being traded to the Steelers this year, reported Kennedy to Seattle team security in the past,””
The fan followed that player from team to team?
OK… Maybe not. But did he mention Yogi or BooBoo?
Of course, that’s his “mark’ and he’s agitating them for a payout.
I actually believe Metcalf!!
The NFL didn’t. 2 game suspension.
It doesn’t mean they didn’t believe him. Any violent interaction with a fan regardless of circumstances is going to draw some discipline. The league expects players to not get involved with interactions like this in the first place. I understand why he got angry if the fan did say what he was accused of, but the league is going to say he shouldn’t have gone over to the stands to begin with and that he should have walked away.
DK or DeKarius is a punk. I watched him in Seattle. He has a hair trigger temper, and he takes plays off. In that game, I saw him run a post pattern into the end zone. Pitts QB, broke out of the pocket and rolled right. DK was in the left side of the end zone, and he stopped running. In football, if the QB breaks out of the pocket, you move towards him. From the left side boundary, towards the right. He just stopped, he quits on plays. Looks like Tarzan, a head like Pinnochio, and plays like Jane.
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