NFL security is investigating Pittsburgh Steelers tight ends coach James Daniel for allegedly attacking a New England Patriots fan at halftime of Thursday night’s game.
A league official confirmed to ESPN’s Adam Schefter that the NFL is aware of the incident and is looking into it. A Steelers spokesman said NFL security has informed the team about the incident and the Steelers are investigating.
The incident while Daniel was on his way to the locker room at halftime of the Steelers’ 28-21 loss on Thursday night, according to ESPN. Daniel was seen allegedly kicking a Patriots fan in the back of his leg and yelling at the fan in front of witnesses.
Daniel returned to the coaching booth after halftime, and police and NFL security were waiting for him. Once the coach was identified by witnesses and police approached him about controlling his behavior, Daniel began shouting at the police officer, according to witnesses.
NFL security interviewed Daniel afterward about the entire incident, according to ESPN sources.
The 62-year-old Daniel is in his 12th season on the Steelers’ staff and has more than 20 years of NFL coaching experience. He also spent time on the staffs of the New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons.
Game averages 27.4 million viewers
The New England Patriots’ 28-21 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night averaged 27.4 million viewers to rank as the second most-watched “NFL Kickoff” game in the 14-year history of the event.
The Super Bowl-champion Patriots’ victory — led by quarterback Tom Brady (four touchdown passes and a team-record stretch of 19 consecutive pass completions) and tight end Rob Gronkowski (three touchdown receptions) — is television’s most-watched show since the 2015 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship (28.3 million viewers on April 6).
With Deflategate behind him, Brady set an NFL record with his 161st victory with one team (he had been tied with Brett Favre, who won 160 games with the Green Bay Packers). Brady finished 25 of 32 for 288 yards and his 23rd career four-touchdown game.
The most-watched, highest-rated quarter hour Thursday night on NBC was 9:15-9:30 p.m. ET with 30.2 million viewers and a 17.5/30 rating, according to fast national data released Friday by the Nielsen Company.
The most-watched “NFL Kickoff” was the 2010 opener (Minnesota Vikings vs. New Orleans Saints, 27.5 million) featuring an NFC Championship Game rematch. Favre and the Vikings visited the then-defending Super Bowl-champion Saints.