The interaction Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf had with a Detroit Lions fan in Week 16 wasn't his first issue with the fan.
The incident between Metcalf and the Lions fan occurred in the second quarter, when the Steelers wideout grabbed the fan by the shirt before shoving him and walking away.
According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, Metcalf actually had an issue with the fan he confronted on Sunday last season when he was with the Seattle Seahawks, and Metcalf reported the issue to team security after it happened.
"Steelers WR DK Metcalf had a history with the Lions fan he confronted Sunday — Metcalf reported the same fan to Seahawks security last season while playing for Seattle, sources say," Pelissero reported.
The details of the previous incident Metcalf had with the fan remain unclear.
What is also unclear is what set Metcalf off this time around.
The Lions fan claims Metcalf did what he did after he called the Steelers wide receiver by his full name, according to the Detroit Free Press.
"He doesn’t like his government name. I called him that and then he grabbed me and ripped my shirt. I’m a little shocked. Like everyone’s talking to me. I’m a little rattled, but I just want the Lions to win, baby," the fan said.
But former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson revealed that Metcalf said the fan called him a racial slur while also calling his mom the C-word.
"He did call him a racial slur," Johnson said on the Nightcap podcast. "He called him the N-word and he did call his mom a (C-word). And I think those words being exchanged and the fan saying that, I think that's where the action occurred where I think he threw a punch. I'm not sure if he connected or whatever. But he did call him the N-word and he called his mama, I guess the C-word."
"I'm not condoning DK touching the fans," Johnson added. "You can't touch the fans. Based on what I was told from a reliable source who wears No. 4 (Metcalf), that's what it was."
Pelissero notes that the league will now review the incident for a potential punishment.
We'll see if Metcalf can make enough of a case to avoid a suspension.
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