DK Metcalf may face a fine from the NFL after fans noticed a handwritten tribute on his helmet during the Pittsburgh Steelers’ victory over the Indianapolis Colts.
League rules prohibit players from displaying political statements on their uniforms or equipment. Nevertheless, Metcalf used a black marker Sunday to write “Nolan Wells” across the back bumper of his helmet.
The message honored Wells, an 18-year-old Black college student who died in July after joining friends on a boating trip near Horn Island, off Mississippi’s Gulf Coast.
According to Wells’ friends, he remained on the island to speak with a girl rather than return to shore with the group. His family has challenged that account. His body was discovered in the water two days later.
Photos of Wells with his white friends on the day he disappeared prompted widespread online debate over whether race had played a role in what happened.
However, a Jackson County grand jury concluded last month that Wells’ death was “consistent with drowning” and rejected claims that it had been “racially motivated.”
DK Metcalf honored Nolan Wells by writing his name on the back of his helmet during Sunday’s game
Metcalf explained earlier in the week why he wanted to display Wells’ name, saying: “I think his family is just grieving. He was a little kid who played football and was a pretty good receiver.
“He was going to Southwest Mississippi Community College, and I know he had dreams and aspirations of reaching the NFL. To write something that allows his family to see their son represented on an NFL field would be special.”
Metcalf added: “I’m not trying to do this for any reason other than to bring awareness to what happened. People can do their own research and reach whatever conclusion they want, but in my opinion, justice needs to be served. What better way to help than to bring attention to the situation?”
The Steelers wide receiver’s public show of support came days after three of Wells’ friends sued former NFL star Terrell Owens, accusing the Pro Football Hall of Famer of defamation.
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Morgan Seymour, Jax Pitalo and Warren Hudson say the 52-year-old defamed them in an X post that read: “ARREST THEM IMMEDIATELY!!”
The federal complaint was filed Monday by the fathers of the three friends, who are under 21 and regarded as minors under Mississippi law.
Wells’ body was recovered after the 18-year-old football player and his friends took a Fourth of July boating trip near Horn Island on Mississippi’s Gulf Coast. Source: ChristineWonsley/Facebook
Wells’ death drew national attention as his grieving family pressed for a deeper investigation, despite law enforcement concluding that there was no evidence of foul play. Source: ChristineWonsley/Facebook
Owens’ post also directed his followers to an Instagram video that, according to the lawsuit, alleged the three friends had killed Wells and altered his phone. The post appeared shortly after the grand jury decided not to recommend charges.
Owens, who has 1.2 million followers on X, had earlier offered $25,000 toward a reward for information resulting in an arrest and conviction in the case.
The Daily Mail contacted Owens and SMAC Entertainment, the company that lists itself as his manager, but neither had responded immediately.
Metcalf, meanwhile, could be expecting a fine from the NFL, if it opts to follow the precedent set by other players in previous seasons.
On multiple occasions, Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair has been fined by the league for writing messages on his uniform.
The teen’s mother became more suspicious after getting her son’s phone back, where she checked Snapchat and saw that her son had not taken any photos of his day out, which she said was unusual for the football player
In Week 1 of this season, he had to hand the league $11,941 for displaying ‘Hind Rajab’, the name of a five-year-old Palestinian girl killed in Gaza in 2024, on his eye black.
He had also previously been fined for writing ‘Stop the Genocide’ in a similar way in January of this year.
In November 2024, meanwhile, San Francisco 49ers star Nick Bosa wore a ‘Make America Great Again’ cap in support of Donald Trump, which landed him with an $11,255 fine from the league.
The technical wording of the fine is for ‘displaying an unauthorized personal message,’ but the league is yet to dish out its fines for this week’s games.