Pittsburgh Steelers DB Damontae Kazee is done for the season after his brutal hit on Indianapolis Colts WR Michael Pittman Jr. on Saturday.
The NFL suspended Kazee for the rest of the season on Monday.
The announcement on the season-long suspension of Steelers’ safety Damontae Kazee: pic.twitter.com/TFjslvhGgp
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 18, 2023
NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan issued the suspension and cited Kazee’s repeated violations of on-field health and safety rules.
“With 8:49 remaining in the 2nd quarter, you were involved in a play that the League considers a serious violation of the playing rules,” Runyan wrote in a letter to Kazee regarding the suspension. “The video of the play shows that you delivered a forcible blow to the head/neck area of Colts’ receiver Michael Pittman Jr., who was in a defenseless posture. You had an unobstructed path to your opponent and the illegal contact could have been avoided. Your actions were flagrant, and as a result, you were disqualified from the game.”
Added Runyan: “When players violate the rules intended to protect player safety on a repeated basis, and particularly when the violations carry with them a significant risk of injury to an opposing player, it is appropriate to impose substantially greater penalties.”
Kazee has appeared in all 14 games for the Steelers this season, including nine starts. He has 61 tackles, two interceptions, and two fumble recoveries.
Of course you eject Damontae Kazee for this hit.
Michael Pittman Jr. doesn’t deserve a brain injury – or spine – for trying to make a great catch. (He got a #concussion)
It’s a new day in sports. These are human beings first.
We can adjust how we play. pic.twitter.com/agYEGM5khw— Chris Nowinski, Ph.D. (@ChrisNowinski1) December 16, 2023
