Steelers, Star Player Defendants In $100 Million Lawsuit

PITTSBURGH, PA — The Steelers, star wide receiver DK Metcalf and others are defendants in a civil lawsuit filed Tuesday in by a Detroit Lions fan related to a Dec. 21 altercation the fan had with Metcalf at Ford Field in Detroit.

Fan Ryan Kennedy is seeking $100 million in damages.

In addition to the Steelers and Metcalf, the lawsuit targets Ford Field management. Metcalf, former NFL players Shannon Sharpe, Chad Johnson and Shay Shay Media were sued for defamation in the lawsuit dfor remarks made after the incident. Shaw Shay Media is owned by Shannon Sharpe.

Metcalf was suspended by the NFL for the season's final two regular season games after the altercation with Kennedy, seen here:

According to USA Today, on Sharpe and Johnson's "Nightcap" podcast released a day after the incident, Johnson said that Metcalf told him Kennedy used a racial slur against Metcalf and a derogatory term aimed Metcalf's mother.

Kennedy denied those allegations at a Dec. 26 press conference. The lawsuit contends that comments made on the podcast were "defamatory and life altering statements" against him.

According to NBC Sports, the lawsit asserts “The statements were false and reckless. Plaintiff
Kennedy did not call defendant Metcalf the ‘N-word'; did not call defendant Metcalf mother a ‘c---'; and did not ever use any racial slurs or hate speech whatsoever.

"Defendant Metcalf provided false information to defendant Johnson about what plaintiff Kennedy allegedly said, thereby instigating and authorizing the publication of the defamatory and reckless statements which were intended to harm plaintiff Kennedy.”

In addition to the $100 million in damages, the lawsuit is asking for a "full public retraction and correction of defamatory statements" from Johnson and Sharpe.

The Steelers and Metcalf had no immediate comment on the lawsuit.