Steelers Now
Detroit Lions fan Ryan Kennedy wanted to “correct the record” during his press conference with legal representation on Friday morning. Kennedy, the fan who was involved in an incident with Pittsburgh Steelers receiver DK Metcalf on Sunday, said his family is receiving threats because Metcalf falsely accused him of using a racial slur before forcefully grabbing him.
Kennedy claimed last Sunday that he provoked Metcalf by calling him by his full name. Former Cincinnati Bengals star receiver Chad Johnson said soon after that Metcalf told him Kennedy called him a racial slur and spoke negatively of his mother.
Kennedy and Detroit-area law firm Head Murphy Law are evaluating all their options and will “use any legal remedies available to help protect Ryan Kennedy and his family,” attorney Shawn Head said Friday.
“It is really hard to get me upset, but there’s two things — animal abuse, racism — like, I get hot right away,” Kennedy said. “Like, I can feel it in my face, it’s all warm. So I guess I wanna be crystal-clear about one thing. I didn’t use any racial slurs, no hate speech, none of that stuff at the game. Actually, never — 15-year season ticket holder for the Lions — I’ve never done that at all.
“So DeKaylin, if you’re watching this, man, if you could just say that, please. My family is getting threats and stuff, and it’s not cool.”
Courtesy of Fox 2 Detroit, Lions fan Ryan Kennedy’s full statement given before questions at his press conference on Friday morning.
Worth noting, he refers to #Steelers WR DK Metcalf by his full first name, which Kennedy said was what bothered Metcalf before their incident on… pic.twitter.com/mA3mHGd94m
— Brendan Howe (@bybrendanhowe) December 26, 2025
Head reiterated Kennedy’s statement. The NFL suspended DK Metcalf for two games for the incident.
“The goal here is accountability and to correct the record,” Head said. “Again, the false accusations of racial statements or racial slurs being used causes real damage — and that needs to be corrected. Mr. Kennedy obviously has the ability to correct that record, but so does everybody else who heard what was actually said. And so does Mr. Metcalf. He can come out and tell the truth and indicate that he never heard any racial slur uttered by Mr. Kennedy.”
Head reiterated that Kennedy used Metcalf’s full first name and asked him to sign a Steelers jersey.
“But what he did not say is what matters most here,” Head said. “During an entire half of football and for 15 years as a season ticket holder, he did not say any racial slurs, he did not call any names and, most importantly, he complied with the Ford Field guest code of conduct. … He followed the rules.”
Head confirmed that Kennedy was reported to security last season when Metcalf visited as part of the Seattle Seahawks.
“There was a complaint that was lodged last year. Not sure exactly who it came...
