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The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office announced Friday that Pittsburgh Steelers star wide receiver DK Metcalf will not be charged in an altercation with a Detroit Lions fan at Ford Field in December.
The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office also denied a request for a warrant.
“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 Lions fan was sitting in the stands behind the Pittsburgh Steelers bench, allegedly heckling 28-year-old player DeKaylin Metcalf. At approximately 5:30 p.m., the fan allegedly left his seat holding a Metcalf jersey to obtain an autograph,” the ad reads. said.
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DK Metcalf of the Pittsburgh Steelers watches before an NFL preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on August 16, 2025. (Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
“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 in which Mr. Metcalf grabbed his jersey and pushed him back. The fan did not appear to be injured nor did he seek medical attention during the game.”
The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office said the fan, Ryan Kennedy, security personnel and people present were interviewed, along with video footage from multiple angles. After extensive review, he chose not to press charges against Metcalf.
Kennedy filed a $100 million lawsuit that names Metcalf, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Ford Field, the Lions’ stadium, Chad Johnson and Shannon Sharpe.
The filing outlines nine charges, including negligence against Ford Field and multiple defamation claims against Sharpe’s Metcalf, Johnson and Shay Shay Media.
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Detroit Lions fan Ryan Kennedy holds a press conference at Head Murphy Law’s office in Farmington Hills, Michigan, on Dec. 26, 2025, discussing the altercation between fans and Pittsburgh Steelers player DK Metcalf. (Ryan Garza/RED USA TODAY)
Kennedy’s attorney, Jon Marko, told Pak Gazette Digital that the lack of criminal charges for Metcalf is irrelevant to his civil case. He cited the prosecutor’s lack of resources to not charge Metcalf.
“The prosecutor’s decision is completely irrelevant to our case, our civil case. You know, prosecutors’ offices, especially busy prosecutor’s offices and major metropolitan areas like Detroit, have priorities when making charging decisions, and they have a very limited amount of resources that they can use, and they use those resources to pursue the most heinous crimes, like homicides and things of that nature. I mean, in this case, clearly, the video shows what I think is an assault and battery, any reasonable person who watches it, I think, would see what himself,” Marko told Pak Gazette Digital.
“This was made public. There were numerous witnesses, and it was on video, but I believe it was only the expense and resources required to prosecute this misdemeanor assault and battery that was likely what led the prosecutor’s office to decide not to file charges, not the idea that the crime was not committed, was not committed. Therefore, it is irrelevant to us whether the prosecutor filed charges or not, we will continue to seek full justice for the assault and battery through our civil case.”
Mitch Schuster of Meister Seelig & Schuster, Metcalf’s attorney, applauded the decision to drop the criminal charges.
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DK Metcalf of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs during a game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, on December 21, 2025. (Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
“The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office has declined to file charges against DeKaylin Metcalf related to the incident involving Ryan Kennedy on December 21, 2025. We applaud the decision and appreciate the hard work and thorough investigation that led to this just result.
“We are confident that justice will also prevail in the civil lawsuit involving Mr. Kennedy. As Mr. Metcalf’s countersuit in the civil case makes clear, Mr. Kennedy’s hate-fueled conduct has no place anywhere, and especially not in professional sports.”
Metcalf was suspended two games by the NFL for the incident.
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Detroit Lions fan Ryan Kennedy sits with attorneys Sean Murphy and Shawn Head at Head Murphy Law’s office in Farmington Hills, Michigan, on Dec. 26, 2025, discussing the altercation between fans and Pittsburgh Steelers player DK Metcalf. (Ryan Garza/RED USA TODAY)
The CBS broadcast showed Metcalf grabbing a fan by the shirt and punching him. NFL Network reported that the fan made derogatory comments toward the 28-year-old player. Kennedy later denied the accusation.
Kennedy told the Detroit Free Press that he was bothering Metcalf by calling him by his full name.
Pak Gazette Digital reached out to Metcalf’s agent for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
