DK Metcalf's sign language touchdown celebrations bringing Swift-like awareness to ASL

Every Tuesday, Seattle Seahawks star DK Metcalf sits down in front of his computer. But he's not just watching film or highlights, like his 73-yard touchdown reception in Week 13, where he hit 22.23 mph to become the league's fastest ball carrier since 2020. He's taking American Sign Language classes on Zoom.

"I've had seven lessons now," Metcalf said last week. "I think it's great that I get to learn something new."

Although many believe Metcalf embarked on his journey to study ASL for the sole purpose of covertly dissing his opponents, the 26-year-old wide receiver took up the language for a much more meaningful reason: He's showcasing sign language on a national stage.

"New people are starting to learn ASL and take heed to … 'What is he signing?' The curiosity factor comes in to where it is bringing attention," Metcalf said. "It started out as me trying to learn something new and then the refereeing thing got thrown into the mix where it kind of turned into trash talk, but I'm trying to learn a new language, simply put."

Here's everything you need to know about Metcalf learning ASL:

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Why does DK Metcalf take sign language lessons?

Metcalf first took an ASL course at the University of Mississippi, where he recorded 1,228 yards and 14 touchdowns across 21 games before he was drafted by the Seahawks in 2019. Metcalf said he wanted to revisit ASL last summer to "exercise my mind and try to learn something new."

He connected with Darrell Utley, an instructor at the Sign Language Center, in hopes of becoming fluent in the language. Utley told USA TODAY Sports that he wasn't familiar with Metcalf prior to their one-hour lessons, but quickly learned about the impact the Pro Bowl receiver has and the hype he's created around ASL.

"I have to admit, for a while I didn't know who he was. I didn't identify him by name as being somebody with the stage that he has and being such a fantastic football player," Utley said in an interview through his interpreter Barry Utley. "I'm not a fanatic for sports … but now with (Metcalf) people are saying, ‘Hey, did you see him sign something after?' That was when I realized, oh, OK. That's my student and we have that connection."

DK Metcalf didn't just learn ASL to trash talk

During an appearance on "The Rich Eisen Show" in October, Metcalf said he uses sign language to circumnavigate unsportsmanlike conduct fines during his celebrations. "I kept getting flags from my mouthing, so gotta sign my (expletive)-talking now," he said.

But that wasn't his motivation behind learning the language.

"I get to challenge myself to learn something new and also to bring light to a community who I didn't know felt unseen or felt like they were being forgotten about," Metcalf said.

Utley said he doesn't see Metcalf's celebrations as inappropriate. In fact, he sees it as quite the opposite: "I don't think it makes ASL look bad. If anything, it shines a spotlight on the language. … I'm thrilled that he wants to use the sign language he's learning.

"People who learn American Sign Language always want to learn some of the swear words," Utley added. "(Metcalf) has never even asked me, ‘Hey, how would I sign this if I wanted to trash talk this?’ Like for example, recently he said, '44 is my son.' He never asked me. We didn't script it out, we didn't plan ahead for him to do that. I had no idea that he was going to plan to do that on the field. It's just something that as we exchange the language and the culture and things, he has found a new way to do that."

What did DK Metcalf say in sign language?

'44 is my son'

During the Seahawks' 17-16 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 11, Metcalf scored an 8-yard touchdown while being covered by Rams' CB Ahkello Witherspoon, who wears No. 44. Metcalf signed '44 is my son' in celebration in the end zone.

Utley explained to USA TODAY Sports how Metcalf applied his lessons to this particular ASL celebration:

"When we approach our lessons, for example, there are different topics that we talk about. So in this case, there's pronouns – you, me, yours, mine. We talked about numbers, one through however high we went... family member's names and how to sign father, mother, son and daughter. Shortly after that, he was able to use that just naturally. And he said, ’44 is my son.’ So he may have learned that because of the lesson, and it made me chuckle a little bit. I know that he's actually learning. And he's able to find a true application in his life on the field."

'Standing on Business'

During the Seahawks' 41-35 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on "Thursday Night Football" in Week 13, Metcalf caught a pass from Geno Smith and ran it in 73 yards for a touchdown. In front of a prime-time audience of more than 15 million viewers on Amazon Prime Video, Metcalf celebrated by signing "Standing on Business." It's a lyric from Drake's 2023 song "Daylight" that means to take care of your obligations and responsibilities.

"Everybody can give credit to (Seahawks linebacker) Boye (Mafe) for that one," Metcalf explained afterward, referring to teammate Boye Mafe, who signs "I love you" to the sky every game in honor of his late mother.

"Actually, 'Standing on Business,' Boye did that when he was walking out of the meeting on Wednesday night. He did it one time and I was like … one more time," said Metcalf as he signed "again."

"(Boye) signed standing on business. I said, 'OK, I'm going to do that tomorrow if I score.'"

He did just that.

'I'm a dog, w-o-o-f'

During the Seahawks' 28-16 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, Metcalf scored a 31-yard touchdown over 49ers CB Deommodore Lenoir. (Both Metcalf and Lenoir were later disqualified from the contest following a dustup.) Metcalf celebrated his score by signing, "I'm a dog, w-o-o-f," lyrics from Migos' 2016 song "Bad and Boujee." He said he heard the song during practice, which inspired his post-touchdown celebration.

49ers long snapper Taybor Pepper shared an expletive-laden message aimed at Metcalf following the game and attempted to sign "14 (expletive) around and found out."

DK Metcalf bringing Swift-like awareness to ASL

Utley, who doesn't root for any particular team, said Metcalf's ASL celebrations have created a "natural attraction for me to want to watch the game. There's some hype around it that I enjoy." He compared the buzz that Metcalf has created within the ASL community to that of Taylor Swift, who has introduced a new legion of fans to football through her whirlwind romance with Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce.

"All of a sudden people who never watched football are now watching because of the Travis (Kelce)-Taylor (Swift) thing," Utley said. "I think it's nice that there's another similarity or parallel to ASL and DK (Metcalf). Everyone wants to see what's going on next. So it's kind of cool."

Utley explained that it's deeper than just a celebration, and that Metcalf is helping "normalize and also increase awareness" for ASL. "It's wonderful how one person creates such such a positive ripple effect," he added.

"I don't know that he understands or realizes the impact. It's a huge impact on the signing and ASL communities. We as deaf people have typically struggled with accessibility. … That's part of our life experience," Utley said.

More than 90% of deaf children are born to hearing parents, a point Utley emphasized. "ASL is not always the first option," he said. "It leads to language deprivation. ASL is a visual language and without that early exposure they miss that and it creates a huge gap in a child's developing years."

DK Metcalf, Darrell Utley to meet in Tennessee

The Seahawks (6-7) travel to Tennessee to face the Titans (5-8) on Christmas Eve in Week 16. Metcalf, who has never met Utley in person, only through Zoom, said he plans to invite his Tennessee-based instructor to the game. Utley "absolutely" accepted.

"He has reached out to me. He's asked if I'm interested in joining. And of course I said, 'Yes!' Looking forward to that," Utley said. "It's always nice to see a 3D version of American Sign Language, as opposed to just 2D on TV."

What will DK Metcalf sign next?

Not even Metcalf knows. He said he doesn't go into each game with a predetermined celebration. "It usually just happens on the spot," Metcalf said. Utley added, "DK is DK. He takes what he knows … and of course he puts DK on that."