Story byAndrew Vasquez, Steelers WireMon, December 22, 2025 at 11:30 AM UTC·1 min readOne NFL legend claims to know what really happened during the shocking Week 16 moment between Pittsburgh Steelers WR DK Metcalf and a Detroit Lions fan. On Sunday’s episode of the Nightcap podcast, former Bengals All-Pro WR Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson claimed that the fan called Metcalf a racial slur and even targeted his mother with a vulgar expletive. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“I got word, obviously, I’m not condoning putting your hands on a fan or punching a fan, but he did call [Metcalf] a racial slur,” Johnson told his co-host Shannon Sharpe. “He called him the N-word, and he did call his mom a c---. I think with those words being exchanged and the fan saying that, that’s where the action occurred.”Courtesy of a report from the Detroit Free Press, the fan involved in the altercation claimed he called Metcalf by his full name — DeKaylin Zecharius Metcalf — which prompted the incident. We at Steelers Wire will provide more information as the NFL investigates the situation involving Metcalf getting physical with the fan, including any potential updates on a punishment that could come his way. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementFor up-to-date Steelers coverage, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like. This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers' DK Metcalf was called a racial slur, claims Chad Johnson.