Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison's one-game suspension without pay for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy was upheld Friday, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello announced.
The decision was first reported by NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora.
The ruling was made by NFL-NFLPA on-field appeals officer Ted Cottrell.
Harrison was suspended Tuesday because of the hit to McCoy during the Steelers' win over the Browns on Dec. 8. McCoy suffered a concussion. Harrison will be reinstated on Dec. 20, following the Steelers' Monday night game against the San Francisco 49ers.
Harrison told ESPN that he did not expect his suspension to be overturned.
"Oh well. It is what it is," he said. "That's the decision I was expecting anyways. I'll deal with it and move on."
The NFL cited Harrison's history of flagrant hits -- this was his fifth on a quarterback -- in making him the first player suspended under stricter guidelines for player safety that were invoked midway through last season.
The suspension was met with some understanding in the Steelers locker room, but safety Ryan Clark was vocal with his displeasure.
"I'm not surprised. You're appealing to the same people who put the suspension in place, so no, I'm not surprised at all," Steelers safety Ryan Clark said. "I don't care about the league's message anymore. It's about us as a football team playing the type of football that's going to help us win championships, despite who gets suspended, despite who gets fined."
Clark added: "Like I said on Wednesday, my disappointment is for James. ... He's been trying really hard to comply with what's being asked of him. For him to be suspended for this situation, to us, is disheartening. To me, it was a between-the-whistle play. They're making an example out of him for it this year. I don't think it's right."
Harrison sent out two tweets immediately following the league's decision.
"When the grass is low the snakes will show! I guess I cut it too short!" Harrison wrote. He then added three minutes later, "I shouldn't be cutting grass when it's this cold anyway."
Harrison again took to Twitter about 30 minutes later, voicing his displeasure with the league.
"17 games,1000+ snaps, 100+ tackles, 12+sacks and 2 forces fumbles since my last incident and I get a suspension for a football play!"
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
