NEWNow you can listen to Pak Gazette articles!
The NFL announced that Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch was suspended one game without pay for his fight with Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster on Sunday night.
“Your aggressive, non-football-related act was completely unjustified, posed a serious risk of injury, and clearly violated the standards of conduct and sportsmanship expected of NFL players,” Jon Runyan, the NFL’s vice president of football operations, wrote in a letter to Branch, according to ESPN. “His conduct reflected poorly on the NFL and has no place in our game.”
Branch will reportedly appeal his suspension, according to NFL Network.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PakGazette.Com
Brian Branch #32 of the Detroit Lions leaves the field after an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on September 22, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
Currently, Branch will 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 night. Patrick Mahomes was seen trying to high-five Branch, but the latter completely ignored him and approached Smith-Schuster. They exchanged a few words and Branch proceeded to slap Smith-Schuster on the helmet.
PATRICK MAHOMES GIVES COLD REACTION AFTER LIONS PLAYER REJECTS HIS HANDSHAKE to start fight with opponent
Smith-Schuster fell to the ground, but quickly got up and attacked Branch. Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco tried to get between them to stop the altercation, but Branch ripped Smith-Schuster’s helmet off as players from both teams began to get involved in the scrum.
After the players and coaches finally got the situation under control, Branch regretted his decision to start the fight.
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/Image Images)
“It was childish, but I’m tired of people doing things between plays and the referees not noticing,” Branch said. “They’re trying to intimidate me. I should never have done it. 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. It’s not what we do. It’s not what we do,” Campbell said. “I apologized to coach (Andy) Reid and the Chiefs, and to Smith-Schuster.
“That’s not right. That’s not what we do here. It’s not going to be right. He knows that. Our team knows that. That’s not what we do.”
Brian Branch of the Detroit Lions and 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)
Branch has already been fined this season for an unsportsmanlike situation. He was docked $23,186 for mask wearing and unsportsmanlike penalties against the Green Bay Packers in September.
