Shane Lantz/The Seattle Times (TNS)
RENTON, Wash. – When Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf started taking American Sign Language lessons earlier this year, his intention was simple – he wanted to learn something new, find a way to exercise his mind away from the football field.
But recently, Metcalf has begun to realize that his ASL exploits have taken on a greater meaning.
After catching his first of three passes in Seattle’s 41-35 loss at Dallas last Thursday night, Metcalf signed the phrase “Stand In Action” to the crowd. He learned the sign from teammate Boye Mafe, who has his own experience using ASL during matches.
The phrase means something closer to “doing your job” or “taking care of business,” and Metcalf saw Maffei making the reference after a team meeting last week. He asked Mafe to make the signal again and immediately told the second-year linebacker he was stealing it to use in the game.
“I said, ‘Okay, I’ll use that tomorrow when I score,'” Metcalf said.
Metcalf was introduced to American Sign Language while in college, when he took a summer course at Ole Miss. He took lessons again earlier this season, after being introduced to Knoxville, Tennessee-based American Sign Language coach Darrell Utley through Metcalf’s agency, CAA Football.
Metcalf has many interests outside of his day job. He had taken acting lessons, was currently learning to play the guitar, and thought learning a new language was a way to take it to a whole new level.
Utley and Metcalf meet in class via Zoom every Tuesday, and have taken seven lessons so far, according to Metcalf. As his skills improved, Metcalf was able to watch his progress grow through his interactions with Utley.
“It was so much fun to see him smile every time we interacted or anytime I knew something he said to me,” Metcalf said. “I can just see his smile light up, so I think it’s great to learn something new.”
While he was teaching this class in college, Metcalf had to start from square one. He remembered some of the signs, but most of the progress he’d made in learning the language had come since starting his lessons again in the first week.
At this point, Utley and Muffy are the only people Metcalf speaks to in American Sign Language. But even as a relative rookie, he’s been able to have some fun with Mafe, who’s happy to have someone else to sign with in the locker room.
“Now that DK has it, I’ll use it on him every now and then,” Muffy said. “We’re going to be funny. We’re going to talk it out and talk it out loud.
Metcalf has only been learning American Sign Language for the past few months, but he’s already started receiving letters thanking him for learning the language and for doing it on national television. Besides his ultimate goal of becoming fluent, Metcalf hopes to use his platform to help spread awareness and acceptance of American Sign Language and the deaf community.
“I challenge myself to learn something new, but also to shine a light on a community that I didn’t know feels invisible or feels forgotten,” Metcalf said. “Just highlighting the American Sign Language community, the deaf community — where more people are starting to learn ASL and starting to pay attention, to, ‘Okay, what is he going to sign next or what is he going to sign?’ And the curiosity factor comes in as he draws attention to the language.” American Sign Language, which a lot of people didn’t know anything about.
Another upside that comes from the ASL lessons is that Metcalf can talk to his opponents in a calmer manner, avoiding the taunting calls and subsequent fines that plagued him early in the season.
Metcalf’s use of sign language on the field began when he signed the phrase “44, my son” after scoring a touchdown against Los Angeles cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon (wearing number 44) in Seattle’s Week 11 loss to the Rams. While verbal taunts may spark anger, referees have not cracked down on Metcalfe’s sign language taunts yet.
Head coach Pete Carroll has been impressed with Metcalf’s progress in the ASL, as it represents an innovative way for Metcalf to express himself on the field. Anything that stops referees from throwing flags is good for Carroll, as the Seahawks lead the league with 91 penalties this season.
“I think it shows a diverse way of communicating and looking at the world, and knowing how everyone is vulnerable to what you express,” Carroll said. “It’s a new approach. I think it’s very innovative, so people start studying and wondering what the hell he’s saying. He’ll be fine. He’s got a grace period.”
While awareness of Metcalf’s knowledge of American Sign Language (ASL) grew due to his penchant for trash talk, teammate Bobby Wagner saw Metcalf using the interest as a way to do some good in the world.
“I’m sure a lot of people who use sign language find what he does very fascinating, and they feel like he’s embracing them. I think it’s a very positive thing for a guy like that to see someone who knows sign language,” Wagner said. “Whatever he comes out with, whether it’s Bullshit or not, it’s a positive thing for me.”
Although Metcalf did not initially start American Sign Language lessons to avoid drawing penalty flags, it was a nice side effect of the work he did with Utley, whom Metcalf hopes to meet in person for the first time when the Seahawks travel to Nashville for their game in the Dec. 24 vs. Tennessee Titans.
“I think it started with me trying to learn something new, and then this was thrown into the mix where it turned into trash talk,” Metcalf said. “But no, I’m trying to learn a new language, simple as that.”