Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch may soon find himself lighter in the wallet — and possibly facing disciplinary action — after being at the center of a heated postgame scuffle with the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night.
The altercation broke out shortly after the Chiefs’ 30–17 victory in Week 6, when Branch appeared to swing at JuJu Smith-Schuster with an open-handed shot. The incident quickly escalated as players from both sides rushed in, resulting in a chaotic on-field scene before order was restored.
Following the game, Branch took responsibility for his actions, calling them “childish” but expressing frustration toward what he believed were missed calls by the officiating crew — specifically, a block in the back that wasn’t flagged late in the contest.
“I did something childish,” Branch admitted. “But I’m tired of people getting away with cheap stuff during plays while the refs don’t see it. They keep trying to push me around, and I reacted the wrong way. I shouldn’t have done it.”
Smith-Schuster, who reportedly suffered a bloody nose in the melee, chose not to escalate the situation when addressing reporters. Instead, he expressed understanding toward Branch and suggested the young defensive back would learn from the mistake.
“I know he’s a better player and a better person than that,” Smith-Schuster said, per Jesse Newell of The Athletic. “He’ll grow from it. I was just doing my job out there — playing until the whistle. I think he got upset about some of the blocking, but I stayed within the rules.”
Detroit head coach Dan Campbell didn’t mince words when asked about the incident, condemning Branch’s actions and issuing an apology to the Chiefs organization — particularly to Andy Reid and Smith-Schuster.
“I love Brian, but what he did was unacceptable,” Campbell stated. “That’s not who we are, and it’s not something we’ll tolerate. I want to personally apologize to Coach Reid, JuJu, and the Chiefs. It won’t happen again — and he knows that.”
Branch has already racked up several fines this season for previous infractions, and it’s expected the NFL will issue another penalty this week. Whether that punishment includes a suspension remains to be seen.
For now, Branch’s emotional lapse has not only drawn scrutiny from the league but also served as a lesson in composure — one he openly admits he’ll have to learn the hard way.
