The NFL suspends Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch for one game for fighting against the Chiefs
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The Detroit Lions’ Brian Branch has been suspended for one game without pay over his fight with Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster on Sunday night, the NFL announced.
“Your aggressive, non-football behavior was completely unprovoked, posed a serious risk of injury, and clearly violated the standards of conduct and sportsmanship expected of NFL players,” John Runyan, NFL vice president of football operations, wrote in a letter to Branch. Per ESPN. “Your behavior has reflected poorly on the NFL and has no place in our game.”
Branch will reportedly appeal his suspension, according to NFL Network.
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Brian Branch #32 of the Detroit Lions walks off the field after an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on September 22, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Cooper Neal/Getty Images)
Branch is currently scheduled to miss the team’s Monday night game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 7.
The incident occurred after the Lions fell to the Chiefs 30-17 on Sunday evening. Patrick Mahomes was seen trying to hit Branch, but the latter completely ignored him and went to Smith-Schuster. They exchanged a few words, and Branch proceeded to slap Smith-Schuster in the helmet.
Patrick Mahomes gives a cold reaction after a Lions player refused to shake his hand to start a brawl with an opponent
Smith-Schuster fell to the ground, but quickly got back to his feet and attacked Branch. Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco tried to get between them to break up the brawl, but Branch tore off Smith-Schuster’s helmet as players from both teams began to get involved in the brawl.
After the players and coaches finally got the situation under control, Branch regretted his decision to start the game.
Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch (not pictured) and Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (9) get into a fight after the game at GEHA Stadium at Arrowhead Stadium on October 12, 2025. (Jay Biggerstaff/Imagine Images)
“It was a childish thing, but I’m tired of people doing things in between plays that the refs don’t catch,” Branch said. “They’re trying to bully me over there. I never should have done that. It was childish.”
Lions coach Dan Campbell also condemned Branch’s actions after the game.
“I love Brian Branch, but what he did is inexcusable, and it will not be accepted here. This is not what we do. This is not what we are about,” Campbell said. “I apologized to Coach (Andy) Reid, the Chiefs and Smith-Schuster.
“This is not good. This is not what we do here. It’s not going to be okay. He knows it. Our team knows it. This is not what we do.”
Brian Branch of the Detroit Lions and the NFC in coverage during the 2025 NFL Pro Bowl games at Camping World Stadium on February 2, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Perry Knotts/Getty Images)
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Branch has already been fined this season for an unsportsmanlike attitude. He was charged $23,186 for wearing a face mask and unsportsmanlike penalties against the Green Bay Packers in September.
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