It’s possible that DK Metcalf stands to lose more than just a couple of game cheques over his suspension after getting into an altercation with a fan on Sunday.
The NFL hit the Pittsburgh Steelers star receiver with a two-game ban on Monday, the day after Metcalf was seen grabbing and appearing to hit a Lions fan in the stands during a game in Detroit.
According to a report by CBS Sports, the ban — which the league said was for “conduct detrimental to the NFL” — voids the US$45 million in guaranteed money in his contract.
A clause in the contract – which Metcalf signed with the Steelers after being acquired in an off-season trade with the Seattle Seahawks – reportedly states that should the receiver not “practice or play with the Club for any reason,” the guarantees he has “will be NULL AND VOID,” which includes a suspension by the league or team for “Conduct Detrimental.”
However, Metcalf is still able to earn the $45 million over the next two seasons, but having the guaranteed number voided would make it easier for the team to cut ties with him for any reason.
What kind of guarantees are voided?
One of the reported guarantees that could be voided is for injury protection in 2027. If Metcalf were to suffer a serious injury during the 2026 season and then not be able to pass a physical in March 2027, he would have been guaranteed to earn $20 million for the 2027 season.
However, if the suspension – which Metcalf is appealing – stands, the guarantee would be voided.
He already will forfeit more than $500,000 in game cheques for missing Pittsburgh’s final two games of the regular season.
“Metcalf’s actions violate league policy, which specifies that ‘players may not enter the stands or otherwise confront fans at any time on game day and … if a player makes unnecessary physical contact with a fan in any way that constitutes unsportsmanlike conduct or presents crowd-control issues and/or risk of injury, he will be held accountable,'” the NFL said in a statement.
Metcalf’s punch, which seemed to make little or no contact with the fan, was missed by the officials but caught on video by the NFL on CBS broadcast crew.
“That’s not going to have great consequences for the Steelers or for Metcalf,” announcer Jim Nantz rightly predicted during the broadcast.
What did the fan say?
The fan, identified by the Detroit Free Press as Ryan Kennedy, told the newspaper that he was “shocked” by the incident and that it was sparked by him calling Metcalf by his full name, DeKaylin Zecharius Metcalf.
“He doesn’t like his government name,” Kennedy told the Free Press. “I called him that and then he grabbed me and ripped my shirt.”
However, former NFL receiver Chad Johnson alleged that Metcalf was called a racial slur and that his mom was also insulted.
“Obviously I am not condoning putting your hands on a fan or punching the fan, but he (allegedly called) him a racial slur, called him the N-word and … his mom a c***,” Johnson said on his Nightcap podcast.
A law firm representing Kennedy said he “categorically denies” using those words and that the allegations are “completely false,” ESPN reported.
Later on Monday, another angle of the incident was posted on Reddit, appearing to show that no racial slurs were uttered by the fan.
Yahoo reported that there was a previous incident involving Metcalf and the fan, with the wideout allegedly reporting him to NFL security in 2024, when Metcalf was with the Seahawks.