NFL suspends Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch one game for fight vs Chiefs

The NFL announced that Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch has been suspended one game without pay for his fight with Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster on Sunday night.

“Your aggressive, non-football conduct was completely unwarranted, created a risk of serious injury, and clearly violated the standards of conduct and sportsmanship expected of NFL players,” NFL vice president of football operations Jon Runyan wrote in a letter to Branch. According to ESPN. “Your actions reflect poorly on the NFL and have no place in our game.”

Branch will reportedly appeal his suspension, according to NFL Network.

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Branch will currently miss the team’s Monday night game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 7.

The incident occurred following the Lions’ 30-17 loss to the Chiefs on Sunday night. Patrick Mahomes was seen trying to high-five Branch, but the latter completely ignored him and went to Smith-Schuster. They exchanged a few words and Branch began slapping Smith-Schuster’s helmet.

PATRICK MAHOMES HAD A COLD REACTION AFTER THE LIONS PLAYER ACCEPTED HIS HANDSHAKE TO START A FIGHT WITH HIS OPPONENT.

Smith-Schuster fell to the ground, but quickly got up and charged at Branch. Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco tried to get between them to end the altercation, but when players from both teams began to get involved in the fight, Branch removed Smith-Schuster’s helmet.

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) fight after the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Oct. 12, 2025. (Jay Biggerstaff/Imagn Images)

“It was a childish thing to do, but I’m tired of people doing things in between plays and the referees not understanding it,” Branch said. “They’re trying to bully me out there. I should never have done that. It was childish.”

Lions head coach Dan Campbell also condemned Branch’s actions after the game.

“I love Brian Branch, but what he did is inexcusable and will not be accepted here. That’s not what we do. That’s not what we’re about,” Campbell said. “I apologized to coach Andy Reid, the Chiefs and Smith-Schuster.

“That’s not right. That’s not what we’re doing here. It’s not going to happen okay. He knows that. Our team knows that. That’s not what we’re doing.”

Detroit Lions’ Brian Branch and NFC are seen 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 for unsportsmanlike conduct this season. He was fined $23,186 for face mask and unsportsmanlike penalties against the Green Bay Packers in September.

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