Chad Johnson mentioned in $100 million lawsuit by Lions fan
CINCINNATI, OHIO - OCTOBER 05: Former Cincinnati Bengals Chad Ochocinco Johnson looks on prior to a game against the Detroit Lions at Paycor Stadium on October 05, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesBack on December 21, the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Detroit Lions at Ford Field.
During the game, Steelers receiver DK Metcalf allegedly grabbed a fan named Ryan Kennedy.
This new angle shows just how bad that attack by DK Metcalf was. The #NFL should suspend him for a year. I also hope that fan presses criminal charges and sues both Metcalf and the league.
- Michael D (@MichaelD8) December 22, 2025
pic.twitter.com/n1zUe6LEvV
Yesterday, news came out that Kennedy filed a $100 million defamation lawsuit against Metcalf, the Steelers, Ford Field Management LLC, and former Bengals receiver Chad Johnson, among others.
According to Steve Neavling of The Detroit Metro Times:
Ryan Kennedy, a longtime Lions season-ticket holder and mortgage company CEO, filed the suit in Wayne County Circuit Court after he was publicly labeled a racist following the assault. Metcalf claimed Kennedy called him the N-word, according to the suit.
Kennedy (or his legal representation) argues that, shortly after the incident, he was falsely accused of using the n-word and a misogynistic slur to refer to Metcalf's mother. Unfortunately, the accusations he's referring to started on the Nightcap" podcast with Shannon Sharpe and Johnson.
The legendary Bengals receiver said he heard it directly from DK", according to the complaint reported by Neavling.
We'll have to see where all this ends up, but it could set a new precedent for sports media gossip and result in more conservative takes in the future.