Steelers' Jalen Ramsey claims he threw punch after Ja'Marr Chase spit on him

Ray Fittipaldo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Nov 16, 2025

Published in Football

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers safety Jalen Ramsey and Cincinnati Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase were talking trash to each other throughout Sunday’s game at Acrisure Stadium, but it was something else that apparently came from Chase’s mouth that got Ramsey ejected.

Ramsey said he threw a punch at Chase after the Bengals receiver spit on him in the fourth quarter of the Steelers’ 34-12 victory. The incident took place one play after Ramsey and Chase were called for unsportsmanlike conduct.

“After the first one, the play before, he tried to crack block me or whatever,” Ramsey said. “Then we got up talking [crap] or whatever. He slaps my mouthpiece off my facemask. That’s when I grabbed his facemask. The refs told us right after that to chill.

“The next play it was the same [crap]. We were talking [crap], which I’m cool with. And then as soon as he spit, I was like, [screw] that. I’m sure the NFL will do their due diligence. They have 100 cameras out there. They’ll investigate and see everything I just told you. They should be able to pull it up and see that he spit.”

Chase denied the accusation, saying it was his trash talk that set off Ramsey, but video shows Chase spat on him as they were jawing at each other.

“I ain’t ever open my mouth to that guy,” Chase said. “He didn’t like some of the words I told him. We were going back and forth the whole time. I’m sure something got under his skin. I ain’t spit on nobody.”

Referee Bill Vinovich said officials on the field did not see Chase spit on Ramsey, but Ramsey was adamant the league will be able to see it with the right camera angles. Chase did not receive a penalty on the play and was allowed to stay in the game.

“The NFL has 100 cameras out there,” Ramsey said. “It was one play after [the first altercation]. We just talked to the refs. I’m not going to just do something to get myself kicked out of the game. The refs just told us the play before. You can just use your common sense.”

____