The Dec. 21 game at Ford Field between the Steelers and an unnamed opponent took a turn few expected - and it had nothing to do with the scoreboard.
During the second quarter, cameras caught Pittsburgh wide receiver DK Metcalf in a physical altercation with Michigan resident Ryan Kennedy. The video showed Metcalf grabbing Kennedy and pushing him upward in what quickly became a viral moment.
The NFL responded swiftly, handing Metcalf a two-game suspension for his role in the incident. But the fallout didn’t stop there - not even close.
Now, more than a month later, the Detroit Police Department has confirmed that it’s been investigating the incident. A spokesperson said a warrant request was submitted on Jan. 21 and is currently under review by the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office. No charges have been filed at this time, and authorities have not disclosed who the warrant request is for.
Meanwhile, Kennedy has filed a sweeping lawsuit that names Metcalf, Ford Field management, former NFL wide receiver Chad Johnson, and several media outlets. In it, he’s seeking at least $100 million in damages, alleging that the aftermath of the incident led to “defamatory and life-altering statements” that damaged his reputation.
One of the key flashpoints in the case came the day after the game, when Johnson appeared on the "Nightcap" podcast with Shannon Sharpe. On the show, Johnson said that Metcalf told him Kennedy had used a racial slur and another slur directed at Metcalf’s mother during the game.
Kennedy has denied those accusations from the start, reiterating his stance in a Dec. 26 press conference and again this week in a public statement. His lawsuit calls the claims “false and reckless.”
At a media conference on Wednesday, Kennedy said the lawsuit is about setting the record straight.
“I filed this lawsuit not out of anger, but out of the need to restore the truth and accountability,” Kennedy said in a prepared statement.
His attorney, Jon Marko of Detroit-based Marko Law, emphasized that the current police investigation is focused on Metcalf’s actions - not on any alleged hate crime or verbal provocation by Kennedy.
“To my knowledge, [Detroit police] are not investigating the circumstances as an assault on Mr. Metcalf.
They’re not investigating a hate crime or the use of hateful language,” Marko said. “Ryan is the victim here.”
Marko also noted that Metcalf could potentially face assault charges, though the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office has yet to file any.
A representative for Ford Field declined to comment on the lawsuit.
As it stands, this is a complex legal battle with layers that go well beyond the gridiron. The NFL has already weighed in with its disciplinary action, but the legal system is still working through the details - and the stakes, both reputational and financial, are enormous. This story is far from over, and it’s one that will continue to unfold in courtrooms, not just in headlines.