Sports · American Football · 2 hrs ago
DK Metcalf wears Nolan Wells’s name on his helmet in Steelers game
Pittsburgh Steelers receiver DK Metcalf wrote Nolan Wells’s name on the back of his helmet during a game against the Indianapolis Colts.
Wells, an 18-year-old college student from Mississippi, died after a boating trip near Horn Island in July.
His friends said he stayed behind on the island, but his family has disputed their account.
A grand jury found his death consistent with drowning and did not recommend charges, rejecting claims that it was racially motivated.
Metcalf said he wanted Wells’s family to see that he had been recognized on an NFL field and wanted to bring attention to the case.
NFL rules prohibit political messages on players’ uniforms or helmets, but no league action against Metcalf is described.
Separately, three of Wells’s friends have sued former NFL player Terrell Owens over a social media post accusing them of involvement in Wells’s death.
Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf wore the name Nolan Wells on the back of his helmet during a game against the Colts.
Wells, an 18-year-old college football player from Mississippi, died after going missing during a boating trip near Horn Island.
A grand jury found Wells’s death consistent with drowning and dismissed accusations that it was racially motivated.
Metcalf said he wanted to bring attention to Wells’s death and give his family a way to see their son’s name on an NFL field.
- Who
- Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf wore the name of Nolan Wells, an 18-year-old college student.
- What
- Metcalf wrote Wells’s name on the back of his helmet during a game against the Colts.
- When
- Sunday; the article was published on October 12, 2026.
- Where
- In the Steelers-Colts game. Wells went missing near Horn Island off the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
- Why
- Metcalf said he wanted to bring awareness to Wells’s death and honor his football aspirations.
Wells’s family
Wells’s friends
Account of events
Wells’s family
Wells’s friends said he stayed behind on the island to talk with a girl.
Wells’s friends
Wells’s family disputed the friends’ account.
Wells went on a boating trip with friends near Horn Island and went missing.
Wells’s body was found off the island’s coast.
A grand jury found the death consistent with drowning and dismissed accusations that it was racially motivated.
Metcalf said he planned to write Wells’s name on his helmet.
Metcalf wore Wells’s name on his helmet during the Steelers’ game against the Colts.
- Player
- DK Metcalf
- Name on helmet
- Nolan Wells
- Wells’s age
- 18
- Location
- Near Horn Island, off the Mississippi Gulf Coast
- Grand jury finding
- Death was consistent with drowning
- Game
- Steelers against the Colts
What people are saying
I'm not trying to do this for any reason but just to bring awareness to the situation that happened.
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?
I think his family's just grieving, a little kid played football, was a pretty good receiver.
Posts on X
POWERFUL: #Steelers DK Metcalf has the name “Nolan Wells” written on the back of his helmet today. Wells, a Mississippi teenager, died in June after going missing during a boat trip to an island. A grand jury recently declined to indict anyone in his desth. (📸@ThompsonFoto12)
Sources
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