Steelers WR DK Metcalf Honors Late Mississippi Teenager on Helmet

PITTSBURGH — The story has been weighing on DK Metcalf’s mind. The Pittsburgh Steelers’ star receiver doesn’t want to allow it to fade away so quickly.

Nolan Wells, an 18-year-old, Black college freshman, disappeared and was later found dead on an isolated Mississippi island after a July 4 boat trip with friends. When Wells’ mother, Christine Wells-Wonsley, started searching for him, a photo of Wells with three white friends on a boat made its rounds on social media.

President Donald Trump said earlier this week that he might have federal investigators look into Wells’ death, the cause having been listed as undetermined by state and private autopsies. An independent autopsy determined there was no evidence of drowning due to an absence of water in Wells’ stomach, lungs and throat, and noted bruising on his head, back, left shoulder and buttocks.

A grand jury unanimously declined to indict anyone for a crime in connection with Wells’ death.

So when Metcalf pulled out a Sharpie marker and wrote on the rear bumper of his helmet ahead of Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts, he was aware that the NFL will probably dock his pay.

Knowing he’s doing what he feels is warranted, the Oxford, Miss., native doesn’t care. Metcalf took the field wanting to shed light on the matter.

“I think his family’s just grieving, a little kid played football, was a pretty good receiver,” Metcalf told Steelers Now after Wednesday’s practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “He was going to Southwest (Mississippi Community) College. And so I know he had dreams and aspirations to make it to the NFL. … So just to write something so his family can recognize (their) son made it on an NFL field, I think, would be special.”

Pittsburgh Steelers WR DK Metcalf’s helmet, with the inscription of Nolan Wells’ name, during Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

Metcalf’s not looking for any thanks from Wells’ family. He knows how the news cycle works, which doesn’t allow for people to really consider what’s going on in the world.

“I’m not trying to do this for any reason but just to bring awareness to the situation that happened,” Metcalf said. “People can do their own research and come to whatever conclusion they want to, but justice needs to be served in my opinion, and what better way to do it than just to bring awareness to the situation?”

Metcalf thought about Wells’ parents saying goodbye to their son, thinking he would return home, but “they never got to see him again,” Metcalf said. “I just think it’s the right thing to do, in the time of this circumstance and this time of uncertainty and hurting for his family … just to bring a bright light to a tragic situation.”

Metcalf hopes some positive can come out of his action.

“Awareness is just one thing that can help a lot of people (with) empathy or just trying to put yourself in somebody else’s shoes and what they go through on a day-to-day basis, whether it is quote unquote racism or whatever it may be,” Metcalf said. “Just trying to empathize with other people in their situations.”