The suspension comes after Kazee was ejected from Saturday’s 30-13 loss to the Indianapolis Colts after a hit on a defenseless wide receiver, Michael Pittman, who stayed down after the violent hit and was ultimately ruled out of the game with a concussion.
“With 8:49 remaining in the second quarter, you were involved in a play that the League considers a serious violation of the playing rules,” NFL vice president of football operations Jon Runyan wrote to Kazee.
The league also cited Kazee’s past history as a factor in the suspension.
“When players violate the rules intended to protect player safety on a repeated basis, and particularly when the violations carry with them a significant risk of injury to an opposing player, it is appropriate to impose substantially greater penalties,” Runyan wrote.
Under league rules, Kazee can appeal the suspension, which would be heard by one of two hearing officers jointly appointed by the NFL and NFLPA to hear such appeals.
Kazee is in his second season with the Steelers. In March, he signed a two-year deal that included a signing bonus of $1.75m and salaries of $1.25m in 2023 and $3m in 2024.
The 30-year-old was also suspended last September for three games for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy.
Kazee has 16 interceptions in 92 career games (62 starts) with the Atlanta Falcons (2017-20), Dallas Cowboys (2021) and Steelers.
