DK Metcalf has been dominating headlines for all of the wrong reasons in Week 17. The Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver got into a bizarre scuffle with a Detroit Lions fan at Ford Field, which escalated to Metcalf grabbing the fan and appearing to throw a punch.
The NFL took this very seriously. Metcalf was suspended for the rest of the season as a result of his uncalled-for action, and despite an appeal, his two-game suspension through Week 18 was upheld.
With the suspension came terrible news for Metcalf (and surprisingly good news for the Steelers' front office). The wide receiver had a clause in his contract that voided his guaranteed money for 2026 and beyond if suspended. It was reported this week that Metcalf would be losing $45 million in guaranteed money.
But in a strange turn of events, the veteran wide receiver caught an unexpected break.
On Sunday, NFL insider Jay Glazer reported that the Pittsburgh Steelers declined to void Metcalf's guaranteed money, he said on FOX NFL Kickoff. Despite the suspension and the escape clause in the contract, all of Metcalf's guaranteed money stays intact.
The Pittsburgh Steelers made the wrong decision with DK Metcalf's guaranteed money
I understand the sentiment the Steelers were trying to make with this decision. In a moment of weakness, DK Metcalf seemingly had $45 million stripped away from him because he scuffled with a Lions fan. However, Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan apparently wanted to take the PR route here and try to do what's best by their star receiver.
Metcalf should owe the team one thousand letters of apology after this. His actions, which resulted in a two-game suspension, hurt his team.
But instead of exercising a clause in the contract that the Steelers gave him for a reason, they are rewarding Metcalf's antics by not voiding his guaranteed money. What type or precident does this set moving forward? Would they have done the same for George Pickens?
This also would have served as the perfect opportunity to get out of Metcalf's contract at any point over the next two seasons without a penny lost in dead cap hit. The Steelers overpaid for Metcalf in the trade. Not only did they send the Seattle Seahawks a second-round pick during the 2025 offseason, but they also paid Metcalf nearly $33 million per season in new money average.
Metcalf's 2025 season ends with just 59 receptions for 850 yards and six touchdowns in 15 games—not exactly numbers that scream No. 1 wide receiver. The Pittsburgh Steelers just torched their escape clause to get out of Metcalf's deal, and this could be a move they soon regret.