Charges will not be issued against Pittsburgh Steelers receiver DK Metcalf after the altercation at Ford Field in December, the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office said Thursday. The office said the warrant request was denied after what it called an extensive review of the evidence.
The decision closes, at least for now, one criminal track tied to the Dec. 21, 2025, incident, in which Metcalf and Detroit Lions season ticket holder Ryan Kennedy were seen talking during the game before Metcalf threw his hand toward Kennedy’s face. Kennedy had left his seat holding a Metcalf jersey to get an autograph before the brief interaction, and the prosecutor’s office said he did not appear to be injured and did not need medical attention at the game.
Kennedy said he spoke to Metcalf as he approached the front railing of the stands. Afterward, he filed a lawsuit on Feb. 3 in Wayne County Circuit Court through the Marko Law Firm, naming Metcalf, Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson and multiple media companies. He sought $100 million in claims that included defamation and negligence, saying he had been falsely branded as a racist in the national media after allegations involving a racial slur.
The prosecutor’s office did not take up that version of events. “After an extensive review of all the relevant evidence, the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office has determined that charges will not be issued in this case,” it said. “The warrant request is denied.”
The decision leaves Kennedy to pursue his civil case without the backing of a criminal charge, while Metcalf avoids a court fight over the December confrontation. The lawsuit, and the public dispute around it, now stands as the main unresolved piece of a brief exchange that quickly grew into something much larger than a sideline argument.
