Ryan Kennedy, a resident of Michigan and a self-identified fan of the Detroit Lions, has initiated legal proceedings following an altercation with DK Metcalf of the Pittsburgh Steelers at Ford Field in December. Kennedy, along with his legal team, held a press conference in Farmington Hills on December 26, where they announced the filing of a lawsuit in Wayne County Court. This lawsuit seeks a staggering $100 million in damages as a result of the December 21 incident, naming not only Metcalf but also the Pittsburgh Steelers and Ford Field, the home stadium for the Lions.
The lawsuit has also included former NFL player Chad Johnson, management at Ford Field, and various media entities, accusing them of making “defamatory and life-altering comments” regarding Kennedy post-incident.
The filing outlines nine counts, which include negligence against Ford Field and several defamation claims involving comments made by Metcalf, Johnson, and former NFL tight end Shannon Sharpe. The altercation reportedly occurred during the first half of the Lions-Steelers game when Metcalf appeared to swing at Kennedy, who was watching from the stands. Following this, the NFL suspended Metcalf for the final two games of the regular season.
In an episode of the “Nightcap” podcast by Shay Shay Media, released shortly after the incident, Chad Johnson claimed that Metcalf accused Kennedy of directing racial slurs towards him and using derogatory terms related to Metcalf’s mother. However, Kennedy has strongly denied these allegations, repeating his denial during the press conference and throughout the lawsuit.
The lawsuit states, “The statements were false and reckless. Plaintiff Kennedy did not use racial slurs or hate speech towards Defendant Metcalf or his mother… Defendant Metcalf provided false information that incited defamatory material.” This points to a potential recklessness in how the statements were made, which Kennedy argues were intended to harm his reputation.
Kennedy has also targeted the Steelers in his litigation, holding them accountable for the incident, with Metcalf being accused of assault and battery. Claims against the Ford Field management contend they failed to implement necessary safety measures to deter players from reaching into the stands.
Fox News Digital attempted to reach out to the Lions for their perspective but did not receive a response right away. It’s worth noting that Metcalf had a notable season with 850 receiving yards in his first year with the Steelers.
