A resident of Michigan and self-proclaimed fan of the Detroit Lions, Ryan Kennedy has decided to take legal action after an incident in Dec. that saw him nearly punched at Ford Field by Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf.
Kennedy, along with his lawyers, held a press conference Dec. 26 in Farmington Hills, Michigan. When Tuesday rolled around, Kennedy’s legal team made the announcement that they filed a lawsuit in Wayne County Court. The suit is seeking $100 million in damages due to the altercation Dec. 21, naming both Metcalf and Ford Field, which is the home stadium of the Lions.
Also listed in the lawsuit is Ford Field management, several media outlets and ex-NFL superstar Chad Johnson, claiming that they contributed to “defamatory and life-altering statements” against Kennedy after the confrontation with Metcalf, per USA Today. (RELATED: President Trump Just Made Our Super Bowl Parties That Much More Glorious)
In the first half of the Dec. 21 contest between the Steelers and Lions, Metcalf seemingly took a swing at the Detroit fan, who was placed in the stands of Ford Field. Later, Metcalf was disciplined by the National Football League with a suspension of two games to end the regular season.
During a podcast episode of “Nightcap” that features Johnson and co-host Shannon Sharpe, which came out the same day of the altercation, Johnson stated that Metcalf spoke with him and claimed that Kennedy targeted a racial slur at the Pittsburgh star. It’s also alleged that Kennedy threw a derogatory term at the mother of Metcalf.
#Lions fan Ryan Kennedy has filed a $100M lawsuit against #Steelers WR DK Metcalf and the media company tied to Chad Johnson and Shannon Sharpe, alleging defamation, negligence, and more.
Kennedy says he was falsely branded a racist in national media following a Dec. 21… pic.twitter.com/iM3H0K164o
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) February 3, 2026
Kennedy has denied saying any kind of slur, doing so during his news conference in Dec. In the lawsuit, Kennedy’s denial is repeated.
“The statements were false and reckless,” reads the lawsuit, per the Detroit Free Press. “Plaintiff Kennedy did not call Defendant Metcalf the ‘N-word’; did not call Defendant Metcalf’s 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.” (RELATED: REPORT: Patrick Mahomes’ Dad Allegedly Can’t Stop Drinking, Ends Up Behind Bars Again)
Legal action is also being taken against the Steelers organization for alleged liability in the altercation, while their wide receiver is now dealing with allegations of assault and battery. Liability is also being alleged against the management of Ford Field in the lawsuit.
“Defendant Ford Field Management, LLC breached its duty by failing to establish or enforce adequate barriers, protocols, or security measures to prevent players from reaching into the stands and making physical contact with patrons,” reads the lawsuit, per the Detroit Free Press.
