In a stunning and unprecedented twist, the NFL officially announced just 30 minutes ago that all penalties and disciplinary actions issued against Cincinnati Bengals star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase for his involvement in last Sunday’s explosive brawl with the Pittsburgh Steelers have been fully overturned.

The announcement—issued in an emergency league statement—arrived after a 48-hour whirlwind of appeals, video leaks, conflicting testimonies, and heated public debate. But the ruling itself was not the biggest shock of the day.

Because less than two hours after the league cleared Chase, the Pittsburgh Steelers launched what is now being called the largest NFL-related lawsuit filed in the past five years, a move that has detonated a fresh wave of controversy and escalated the team’s feud with both the Bengals and the league office.

With tensions at historic highs and questions swirling about the future of league discipline, this is shaping up to become the NFL’s most dramatic off-field battle of the season.

The Incident: A Brawl Born From Boiling Rivalry

It all began late in the third quarter of the Bengals–Steelers matchup—a game already brewing with animosity after several late hits and trash talking from both sidelines.

On a contested sideline catch, Chase and Steelers cornerback Levi Wallace collided. What began as a routine post-play shove turned into a chaotic scene involving players from both teams. Chase was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, then hit with a personal foul for “initiating physical escalation.”

The league initially fined Chase heavily and issued a one-game suspension, citing “aggressive physical instigation.”

But Bengals head coach Zac Taylor and multiple Cincinnati players publicly contested the ruling, claiming Chase was responding, not instigating.

Then came the video leaks.

The Turning Point: New Angles, New Stories, New Pressure

Within hours, fan-shot sideline footage began circulating online, revealing angles that appeared to show Wallace delivering a shove to Chase’s neck area moments before the brawl erupted. Another video—released by the Bengals media department—suggested Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt took the first swing.

The Steelers countered with footage of their own, portraying Chase as verbally hostile and escalating tension throughout the game.

Commissioner’s Decision: “Insufficient Evidence of Instigation”

In a sharply worded statement released this afternoon, the league declared:

“After reviewing multiple sideline and broadcast angles, internal audio, and testimony from both organizations, the NFL has determined that there is insufficient evidence to justify disciplinary action against WR Ja’Marr Chase.

The incident, while unacceptable, does not meet the league’s threshold for suspension.”

All fines were canceled. The suspension lifted. Chase was cleared immediately.

The Bengals celebrated the ruling, calling it a “victory for fairness.” Chase himself posted a short message on social media:

“Told y’all.”

It was only a matter of time before the Steelers fired back.

And they fired back hard.

Steelers’ Stunning Response: Mike Tomlin Files Blockbuster Lawsuit Against the NFL

Just as debate over the reversed penalties began to surge online, the Pittsburgh Steelers dropped a bombshell:

Head coach Mike Tomlin and the Steelers organization have filed a sweeping legal complaint against the NFL, a filing described by insiders as the largest combined lawsuit brought by a team against the league in at least five years.

The lawsuit alleges:

• “Gross mishandling” of game footage review procedures

• “Negligence and bias” in reversing Chase’s punishment

• “Compromised officiating standards” during the Bengals–Steelers game

• “Damage to the team’s competitive integrity and player safety”

A key portion of the statement reads:

“The overturning of penalties in this matter represents a dangerous precedent and reflects a failure of the league to uphold its own standards. The Pittsburgh Steelers will pursue all available avenues to ensure accountability.”

This is far from typical. Team lawsuits against the league are rare and usually reserved for league-wide labor disputes—not disciplinary disagreements involving player fights.