Citing, in part, that the fan involved in the alleged incident was not injured, a prosecutor from the Detroit area denied a request to charge Pittsburgh Steelers receiver DK Metcalf for his role in an altercation with a Detroit Lions fan during a game in December.
A spokesperson for the Wayne County (Michigan) prosecutor’s office released a statement Friday to TribLive on behalf of prosecuting attorney Kym Worthy. The topic was the incident that happened in the first half of a Steelers’ Dec. 21 win at Ford Field. CBS television cameras caught Metcalf verbally and physically tussling with 45-year-old Lions season ticket holder Ryan Kennedy.
“After an extensive review of all the relevant evidence, the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office has determined that charges will not issued in this case,” the statement read. “The warrant request is denied.”
Additionally, the attorney for Metcalf doubled down on that, saying Kennedy displayed “hate-fueled conduct” in inciting the incident.
“We applaud the decision and are thankful for the hard work and thorough investigation that led to this just result,” read a statement released to TribLive by a spokesperson on behalf of attorney Mitch Schuster of Meister Seelig & Schuster.
“We are confident that justice will also prevail in the civil claim involving Mr. Kennedy. As Mr. Metcalf’s counterclaim in the civil case makes clear, Mr. Kennedy’s hate-fueled conduct has no place anywhere, and especially not in professional sports.”
Metcalf was seen grabbing the collar of the shirt of Kennedy and shoving upward in a motion that initially looked like a punch. As a result, the NFL suspended Metcalf for two games.
Though Metcalf has never commented publicly about the altercation, multiple others have said Metcalf indicated to them that Kennedy used slurs in addressing Metcalf. Kennedy strongly denies this, and there is no audio evidence he did.
Kennedy filed a $100 million civil lawsuit against Metcalf, retired NFL player Chad Ochocinco Johnson, Shannon Sharpe’s company Shay Shay Media, podcast network The Volume and Ford Field. In it, Kennedy alleges he was assaulted and defamed.
That civil litigation remains pending, but Metcalf will not face criminal charges.
“The male fan (Kennedy), security staff, people attending the game in close proximity to front railing of the stands, were interviewed,” the prosecutor’s statement read. “Video footage from various angles capturing the interaction were reviewed in this matter.”
The statement from Worthy’s office, which was provided by director of communications Maria Miller, referred to Metcalf by his full first name, DeKaylin, which is what Kennedy has said initially incited Metcalf after Kennedy referenced him that way.
Attorneys representing Metcalf did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday.
Under a heading “Facts of the case,” the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office summarized the altercation as:
“On December 21, 2025, during an NFL football game at Ford Field, located in the 2000 block of Brush Street in Detroit, a 45-year-old male Lions fan, was seated in the stands behind the Pittsburg (sic) Steelers’ bench, allegedly heckling player DeKaylin Metcalf, 28. At approximately 5:30 p.m., it is alleged that the fan left his seat holding a Metcalf jersey to get an autograph. As he approached the front railing of the stands, he said something to Mr. Metcalf. As Mr. Metcalf approached the stands, there was a brief interaction where Mr. Metcalf grabbed his shirt and pushed him back. The fan did not appear to be injured, nor did he seek medical attention at the game.”