--- title: "Top NFL Receiver Insists There’s “Another Civilization” Living Deep Under Antarctica" description: "Pittsburgh Steelers veteran wide receiver DK Metcalf insists there's \"another world\" teeming deep below the Antarctic ice." date: "2026-09-09" modified: "2026-09-09" authors: - name: "Joe Wilkins" job_title: "Correspondent" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/jwilkins.md" url: "https://futurism.com/future-society/nfl-receiver-dk-metcalf-conspiracy-theory-hollow-earth-antarctica" categories: - "Future Society" --- # Top NFL Receiver Insists There’s “Another Civilization” Living Deep Under Antarctica ![A silhouette of a person stands inside an ice cave with smooth, blue-toned ice walls and ceiling. In the background, a bright waterfall flows through an opening in the ice, creating a small pool of water. The scene has a mystical, serene atmosphere with contrasting dark and light areas.]() After an ego-bruising stint with the New York Jets, it seems like seasoned quarterback and chief NFL conspiracy crank Aaron Rodgers is finally in good company with the Pittsburgh Steelers. In a recent interview [with the *Athletic*](), the team's veteran wide receiver DK Metcalf admitted that he's a "big conspiracy theorist." "Shout out to my quarterback," the two-time pro bowler said, referring to Rodgers, whose infamous conspiracy takes range from [9/11 skepticism]() to belief in a [hollow Earth](). That latter idea — known in conspiratorial Facebook groups as the "Inner Earth theory" — evidently has a supporter not only in Rodgers, but also in his receiver. "I think there is another civilization inside of Earth," Metcalf told the *Athletic*. "I think it's another world." Following the basic outline of the Inner Earth theory, Metcalf outlined his concept of a civilization thriving deep beneath the crust, which can only be accessed via passageways in Antarctica. "You can go to Alaska. You could go to the North Pole," the wide receiver continued. "But why not Antarctica? Why can't you just book a trip to Antarctica? Why is there a secret meeting — well, it's not secret, but why is there a meeting between every world leader of every country in Antarctica, specifically?" While it shouldn't take an expert to tell you that this scenario is impossible, the *Athletic* asked one anyway. As Brent Christner, a rabid Steelers fan and associate professor of microbiology at the University of Florida told the publication, one can easily book a trip to Antarctica (in fact, Antarctic tourism is growing faster than environmental monitors can realistically keep up with, resulting in a [notable rise]() in pollution on the white continent.) As for any sort of UN-style meeting-of-the-minds at McMurdo Station, Christner says forget it. "There are definitely some distinguished visitors that come down to Antarctica," the researcher told the *Athletic*. "When they would come down, they would get the royal treatment and get thrown in helicopters and shown all the excellent sites. But there's not like a G7 that occurs down there." **More on conspiracy theories:** *[Conspiracy Theorists Are Creating Special AIs to Agree With Their Bizarre Delusions]()* ## Author At Futurism, I focus on the intersection of technology and power — examining the economics, history, and politics behind today’s dystopian headlines. As a writer, I’m interested in topics ranging from AI’s impact on labor to startups nobody asked for. My prior work includes bylines in Jacobin, Verso, and Blue Labyrinths. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Forbes, The Guardian, MIT Technology Review, Time, The Nation, Mother Jones, The Verge, and Wired. I grew up in Michigan, attending Central Michigan University as well as Ball State University, where I earned a master of music. I now live in Brooklyn with my girlfriend and our cat Ziti. On weekends, you can find me hunched over a cold pint arguing geopolitics with the other transplants. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()