Steelers wide receiver DeKaylin Zecharius “DK” Metcalf is in hot water for punching a Detroit Lions fan during Sunday’s Steelers vs Lions game.
Video of the altercation quickly went viral, and angry Lions fans demanded action from the league.
The video shows DK grab the blue-haired fan and punch him before walking away.
This new angle shows just how bad that attack by DK Metcalf was. The #NFL should suspend him for a year. I also hope that fan presses criminal charges and sues both Metcalf and the league.
pic.twitter.com/n1zUe6LEvV— Michael D (@MichaelD8) December 22, 2025
The NFL suspended DK for the final 2 games of the season for violating league policy.
Specifically, he violated the policy that states “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.”
Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin said he understood why DK punched the fan.
“He did explain to me why he did what he did. I certainly don’t condone the behavior, but I support DK,” Tomlin told a reporter.
The 2-game suspension will cost the star wide receiver 2 paychecks worth about $555,000. But the suspension also voids more than $40 million in future guaranteed money in DK’s contract with the Steelers, according to @jonathanjonesnfl of CBS.
The suspension falls under “conduct detrimental,” language in his contract that wipes out future guarantees tied if he is ever suspended by the league.
DK, 28, attended an appeal hearing on Tuesday. The NFL could lift the suspension or reduce it to just 1 game. If the league doesn’t lift the suspension, he will lose $40 million in future guarantees.
DK played college football for the Ole Miss Rebels and was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round of the 2019 NFL draft. He was traded to the Steelers in 2025.
