PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf will have a hearing on Tuesday, as he appeals his two-game suspension for an altercation with a fan during the team's Week 16 win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday.
Head coach Mike Tomlin said that he and the team are supporting Metcalf in his appeals hearing, but that he does not condone his actions on the field on Sunday.
"He did explain to me why he did what he did and I certainly don't condone the behavior, but I support DK."
Tomlin also said that there might be legal ramifications, and though he did not elaborate on what that might mean, he said the the combination of the upcoming NFL hearing and potential legal issues forced him to limit his comments on the matter.
"I'd better be careful about what I say and how I say it," Tomlin said.
Tomlin declined to get into whether the Steelers have a specific program or plan of action for dealing with specific fans that are causing an issue. He said he has seen that type of behavior from fans on the rise, not just in the NFL, but around sports.
"I just think volatile rhetoric is a component of our business today, unfortunately," he said. "It just is. But not only our business, college, youth sport parents, it's just a component of sport that's developed and developed in a big way in recent years and it's unfortunate."
This isn't the first time Metcalf has run afoul of the NFL. The 28-year-old has an extensive history of violations. While he has been suspended for the first time, he has been fined for excessive celebrations, taunting, unsportsmanlike conduct, a late hit, arguing with officials, facemasking, head-butting, eye-poking, an obscene gesture and two on-field fights: one in 2021 with Green Bay Packers defensive back Henry Black and another in 2023 with San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner .
Despite all of that, Tomlin defended Metcalf's character, saying he's been great to have as a member of the Steelers, and that's why he continues to support him.
"He's been great," Tomlin said. "He cares. He works hard. He's a heck of a guy. He's a good teammate. And that's why he's easy to support."
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Mike Tomlin: Steelers Still Supporting DK Metcalf after Suspension
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