VT. The NFL has suspended Steelers Cornerback Jalen Ramsey for punching Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase in the face. Ramsey denies he initiated the punch to WR Ja’Marr Chase’s face, but the league determined video evidence was enough to warrant a suspension.
The NFL woke up to a shockwave this morning after announcing a full-game suspension for Steelers cornerback Jalen Ramsey following a heated altercation with Bengals star receiver Ja’Marr Chase. The league’s disciplinary office released a short statement saying that “clear visual evidence” confirmed Ramsey threw a punch that connected with Chase’s face during Sunday’s rivalry matchup — one that had already been boiling with tension long before kickoff.
Ramsey, however, is firing back just as hard as he plays.
Speaking to reporters outside the Steelers facility, he insisted he never initiated physical contact and claimed the league was “jumping to conclusions based on a single angle.” According to Ramsey, Chase provoked the confrontation, stepped into his space, and that the two were shoving chest-to-chest before the infamous moment occurred. “I didn’t throw the first punch,” Ramsey said. “Check the full tape — not the edited clip the league is running with.”
But behind NFL headquarters, the tone was very different. League investigators reviewed multiple camera angles — end zone tapes, sideline cams, and enhanced footage from the broadcast crew. The league concluded that the punch was “clear, intentional, and unsportsmanlike,” enough to trigger an automatic suspension without waiting for the Steelers’ internal review.
The moment the suspension was announced, social media exploded.
Fans split instantly: Steelers Nation rallied behind Ramsey, accusing the league of bias and asking why Chase — who was visibly jawing back and escalating the argument — wasn’t penalized as well. Bengals fans, meanwhile, cheered the decision and argued the video evidence was “undeniable.”
Inside team circles, insiders described Ramsey as “furious,” feeling targeted and misunderstood. Some Steelers players believe the league acted too quickly, while others privately worry the drama will overshadow preparations for next week’s matchup. As for Chase? He hasn’t offered more than a single eyebrow-raising tweet: “Funny how the truth always comes out.”
The NFL says the case is closed. Ramsey says it’s far from over.
He is expected to file a formal appeal within 48 hours — and given the tense history between these two AFC North rivals, this saga might only be getting started.
