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NFL announced that Detroit Lions Safety Brian Branch was suspended a game without pay for his match with Kansas City Chief’s wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster Sunday night
“Your aggressive, non-football action was completely unjustified, posed a serious risk of injury and violated the standards of behavior and sports expected by NFL players,” wrote Jon Runyan, the NFL Vice President of Football Operations, in a letter to branch per day. Espn. “Your behavior reflected badly on the NFL and has no place in our games.”
Branch will reportedly appeal its suspension according to NFL Network.
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Brian Branch #32 in the Detroit Lions goes off the field after a NFL football match against Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on September 22, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
The branch is currently ready to miss the team’s Monday evening match against Tampa Bay Buccaneers in week 7.
The incident took place after Lions fell to Chiefs, 30-17, Sunday night. Patrick Mahomes was seen trying to high-five branch, but the latter completely ignored him and went up to Smith-Schuster. They exchanged a few words and branch continued to beat Smith-Schuster over the helmet.
Patrick Mahomes give cold reaction after Lions plays snub his handshake to start beating with the opponent
Smith-Schuster went to the ground, but would quickly get back on his feet and charge at the branch. Chiefs, who runs back Isiah Pacheco, tried to get in between them to break down the quarrel, but Branch flowed Smith-Schuster’s helmet as players from both teams began to get involved in the crumade.
After players and coaches finally got the situation under control, Branch regretted his decision to start the match.
Detroit Lions Safety Brian Branch (not depicted) and Kansas City Chiefs Brede Receiver Juju Smith-Schuster (9) goes into battle after the game at Geha Field at Arrowhead Stadium on October 12, 2025. (Jay BiggerStaff/Imag images)
“It was a childish thing, but I’m tired of people doing things between the play and Refs doesn’t catch it,” Branch said. “They are trying to bully me out there. I should never have done it. It was childish.”
Lion’s main coach Dan Campbell also condemned Branch’s actions after the game.
“I love Brian Branch, but what he did is unforgivable and it won’t be accepted here. That’s not what we do. That’s not what we’re about,” Campbell said. “I apologized for Coach (Andy) Reid and Chiefs and Smith-Schuster.
“It’s not ok. That’s not what we’re doing here. It won’t be okay. He knows that. Our team knows it. That’s not what we do.”
Brian Branch of Detroit Lions and NFC in coverage under 2025 NFL Pro Bowl Games at Camping World Stadium on February 2, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Perry Knotts/Getty Images)
Branch has already been fined this season for an unsportsmanlike situation. He was anchored $ 23,186 for facing and unsportsmanlike sanctions against Green Bay Packers in September.
