"I don’t condone it": Mike Tomlin refuses to discuss DK Metcalf punching Lions fan, citing "legal ramifications" as Steelers WR appeals suspension

When asked after the game about DK Metcalf’s sideline altercation with a Detroit Lions fan on Sunday, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin kept his response brief and said he had not spoken with Metcalf.

Two days later, following the NFL’s decision to suspend Metcalf for two games without pay, Tomlin made his opinion known about the situation.

According to Tomlin, he had a conversation with Metcalf and has a clearer understanding of the circumstances surrounding the incident.

“He did explain to me why he did what he did, and I certainly don’t condone the behavior, but I support DK,” Tomlin said on Tuesday.

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Tomlin added:

“I really don’t have a lot to add other than what I just told you. I think he has a hearing this afternoon, an appeals hearing," Tomlin said. "And I certainly don’t want to weigh in prior to that. And certainly, I’ve heard more recently that there might be legal ramifications, and so I'd better be careful about what I say and how I say it.”

According to the NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, DK Metcalf’s confrontation with Ryan Kennedy on Sunday was not a one-off incident. Pelissero reported that Metcalf had previously identified the same fan to Seahawks officials during the 2024 season when he was playing in Seattle.

Metcalf has also reportedly said, via former NFL receiver Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, that Kennedy used a racial slur toward him and made a derogatory comment about his mother during Sunday’s incident.

As a result of the altercation, the NFL handed Metcalf a two-game suspension, which he is appealing. The appeal will be heard later Tuesday. Should the league uphold the ruling, the receiver would be inactive for crucial divisional games against the Cleveland Browns in Week 17 and the Baltimore Ravens in Week 18.

DK Metcalf will be a huge loss for the Steelers in the next two weeks

Although DK Metcalf’s production hasn’t fully lived up to expectations during his first year in Pittsburgh, he has still solidified himself as the centerpiece of the team's passing offense. He leads the team with 59 receptions, 850 receiving yards and six touchdowns, while averaging 14.4 yards per catch.

Metcalf’s potential absence for the final two weeks of the regular season could be difficult to overcome for the team. Without his physical dominance and ability to stretch the field vertically, Pittsburgh would be without its top receiving threat and most reliable red-zone weapon at a crucial stage of the playoff race.

The Steelers (9-6) sit two games clear of the Ravens (7-8) in the AFC North and are on the brink of securing the division crown with just one more win. However, if Metcalf misses time, they will need significant contributions from Adam Thielen, Pat Freiermuth and Marquez Valdes-Scantling to keep the offense firing as the postseason approaches.

Edited by Joseph Schiefelbein