The DK Metcalf controversy regarding his altercation with Detroit Lions fan Ryan Kennedy in the sidelines has grown a bit more complicated as the Steelers star has appealed his two-game suspension. Metcalf argued that Kennedy hurled racial slurs at him, an accusation that the Lions fan denied. Despite all of this, the Lions organization has not banned Kennedy, and this has drawn some criticism.
During his “Nightcap” podcast, NFL legend Shannon Sharpe went off on the organization for not also punishing the fan over those alleged racist slurs he hurled at Metcalf.
“This is their fan, this is one of their ticket holders, why wouldn’t they do that? This could have been removed,” Sharpe said. “When the fan had an altercation with LeFleur last year, they took his tickets immediately!”
In his appeal, Metcalf revealed that this was not the first time that the same Detroit Lions fan harassed him, with this same thing happening last year when Metcalf was still with the Seattle Seahawks. This was corroborated by FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer, who pointed out that the wide receiver complained to Kennedy last year as well.
“I actually have the security communication between the Detroit Lions and Seattle Seahawks security from a game last year,” Glazer said. “DK Metcalf … complained about that exact same fan to security. He asked that the fan be removed over very derogatory comments. I’m not going to repeat what the comments are on here.”
Shannon Sharpe went off on the Detroit Lions for not protecting DK Metcalf from alleged racist comments By the fan . He says they are making laws censoring people and their speech but it seem like it’s only for certain people while they can say whatever pic.twitter.com/J3MW9cQAvg
— joebuddenclips/fanpage (@chatnigga101) December 29, 2025
Detroit Lions Fan Ryan Kennedy Continues To Deny He Used Any Racial Slurs
As for the fan that DK Metcalf had a confrontation with, Ryan Kennedy, he held a press conference after Metcalf made his appeal, and he noted that he did not use any racial slurs or hate speech during last Sunday’s altercation.
He maintained that he just called Metcalf by his real name, DeKaylin, which he claims that the wide receiver does not like being called as. He would then call the wide receiver by that name again as he called him out, before claiming he and his family are getting threats.
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