DK Metcalf reveals what caused him to start physical altercation with Lions fan who lured him away from Steelers’ sideline
DK Metcalf and the Lions fan tell very different stories about Sunday’s altercation in Detroit.
The Pittsburgh Steelers won what was one of the most dramatic games in the NFL this season on Sunday. After taking control through the trenches, it looked like the Steelers would come away with a resounding victory against the Detroit Lions.
But then Jared Goff and the Lions started picking Pittsburgh’s defense apart through the air, and the game came down to the last play. Before all of that, DK Metcalf got physical with a Lions fan in the stands. With everyone wanting to know what provoked that action, Metcalf was the first person the media wanted to talk to after the game. Only, they never got the chance. Instead, it was former Bengals WR Chad Johnson who shared Metcalf’s side of the story early Monday morning.
DK Metcalf tells Chad Johnson that fan called him a racial slur
“He did call him a racial slur,” Johnson said via the Nightcap podcast on YouTube. “He called him the [expletive] word, and he did call his mom an [expletive] word. And I think with those words being exchanged and the fan saying that, I think that’s where the action occurred where where I think he threw a punch. I’m not sure if he connected or whatever. I’m not condoning DK touching the fans. You can’t touch the fans. [But] based on what I was told from a reliable source who wears No. 4, that’s what it was.”
Per the broadcast and CBS sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson, Metcalf went over to the fan after seeing that the fan was holding a black-and-gold jersey with the number four on it. Video shows that, but it also shows the fan sporting Lions colors, leading you to believe that his intention was to lure Metcalf away from the Steelers bench, where he could provoke him.
“I was watching it. He (Metcalf) came over because the fan in the stands was holding a (number) four Pittsburgh jersey,” reported Tracy Wolfson from the sideline of the game via the CBS broadcast. “He went over, and the fan said something to him. Obviously, Metcalf did not like what he said, and you saw the swipe there. No Steelers came over and mentioned anything to him. We’ll see if the league takes action.”
Lions fan says he called DK Metcalf by his government name
“He doesn’t like his government name. I called him that, and then he grabbed me and ripped my shirt,” said the fan via the Detroit 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.”
It’s clear that this is a he said, he said situation. Metcalf tells one side of the story, while the Lions fan tells the press another. Unless the NFL can find a mic or a witness to back up Metcalf’s claims, the league may still decide to punish him.
Will the NFL suspend DK Metcalf?
“I haven’t had an opportunity to talk to DK. So I have no comment,” said Mike Tomlin when asked about the incident after the game via the Steelers YouTube channel.
We don’t have a precedent in this situation. There was the incident in Week 1 between Lamar Jackson and a Bills fan, but nothing came from that. The NFL could opt to just fine Metcalf after seeing it wasn’t actually a punch and listening to what he said, but the league hasn’t been afraid to suspend players for non-football-related acts this year, and Steelers DB Jalen Ramsey was thrown out and fined for punching Ja’Marr Chase despite being spat on.
Expect action in the coming days, and keep it locked on A to Z Sports Pittsburgh for all the updates.