Steelers Now
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf’s two-game suspension has been upheld by an appeals officer jointly appointed by the NFL and NFLPA, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Metcalf violated league policy after getting in an altercation with a fan at Ford Field during the team’s 29-24 win over the Detroit Lions.
Metcalf will miss the Steelers’ final two regular season games against the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens.
Metcalf’s two-game suspension would cost him $277,778 per game, or $555,556 total for the two games. Rapoport revealed that it could cost him a whole lot more than that.
“Based on his contract, the suspension would void not just the rest of his salary for this season but $45M in future guarantees — $25M fully guaranteed in 2026 and $20M guarantee for injury in 2027,” Rapoport posted on X.
The two-game suspension for #Steelers WR DK Metcalf has been upheld by an appeals officer jointly appointed by the NFL and NFLPA.
Metcalf is out for the rest of the regular season and sees $45M in future guarantees voided, including $25M that was fully guaranteed for 2026. pic.twitter.com/0M2DePYS7z
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 24, 2025
Head coach Mike Tomlin said that he and the team supported Metcalf in his appeals hearing, but that he does not condone his actions on the field on Sunday.
“He did explain to me why he did what he did and I certainly don’t condone the behavior, but I support DK.”
Tomlin also said that there might be legal ramifications, and though he did not elaborate on what that might mean, he said the the combination of the upcoming NFL hearing and potential legal issues forced him to limit his comments on the matter.
“I’d better be careful about what I say and how I say it,” Tomlin said.
Tomlin declined to get into whether the Steelers have a specific program or plan of action for dealing with specific fans that are causing an issue. He said he has seen that type of behavior from fans on the rise, not just in the NFL, but around sports.
“I just think volatile rhetoric is a component of our business today, unfortunately,” he said. “It just is. But not only our business, college, youth sport parents, it’s just a component of sport that’s developed and developed in a big way in recent years and it’s unfortunate.”
This isn’t the first time Metcalf has run afoul of the NFL. The 28-year-old has an extensive history of violations. While he has been suspended for the first time, he has been fined for excessive celebrations, taunting, unsportsmanlike conduct, a late hit, arguing with officials, facemasking, head-butting, eye-poking, an obscene gesture and two on-field fights: one in 2021 with Green Bay Packers defensive back Henry Black and another in 2023 with San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner.
Despite all of that, Tomlin defended Metcalf’s character, saying he’s been great to have as a member of the Steelers,...
