The NFL suspended Detroit Lions defensive back Brian Branch for one game without pay on Monday for his postgame actions in the aftermath of the team’s loss at Kansas City on Sunday night.
Branch, fined three times already this season after seven financial penalties from the NFL in 2024, struck Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster with an open hand to the face to ignite a scrum at the end of the Chiefs’ 30-17 victory.
The game was over when Branch ignored Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ attempt to shake hands as Branch walked past. Smith-Schuster was nearby and approached Branch expecting a handshake, but received a sucker punch to his facemask, causing him to wobble and tumble to the ground.
Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco tried to separate Smith-Schuster, who got up and ran after Branch, from the scrum only for the Chiefs receiver to get his helmet taken off and Branch to take him to the turf again as players from both sides converged on the fight.
NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan handed down the suspension for a violation of Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1, which prohibits unsportsmanlike conduct and applies to “any act which is contrary to the generally understood principles of sportsmanship.”
In a letter that Branch received from the league, Runyan wrote, “Your aggressive, non-football act was entirely unwarranted, posed a serious risk of injury, and clearly violated the standards of conduct and sportsmanship expected of NFL players. Your conduct reflected poorly on the NFL and has no place in our game.”
Branch later apologized for the skirmish and explained his reasoning for being upset with Smith-Schuster.
“I did a real childish thing,” Branch, 23, told reporters. “I’m tired of people doing stuff in between plays and refs don’t catch it. They be trying to bully me out there. I shouldn’t have did it, it was childish.”
Branch had already racked up $34,784 in fines this season. He received the dreaded manila envelope in his locker after an unsportsmanlike conduct Week 1 at Green Bay, when he was also hit for taunting in the loss to the Packers. He was fined following the Week 3 win at Baltimore for a hit below the knees.
But Branch said a specific play late in the fourth quarter Sunday night sparked his rage. He said Smith-Schuster hit him in the back away from the ball.
“I got blocked in the back illegally,” Branch said, “and it was in front of the ref and the ref didn’t do anything. It’s just stuff like that. I could’ve gotten hurt off of that, but I still shouldn’t have done (the postgame fight), though.”
Branch will miss the Oct. 20 game when the Lions (4-2) host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-1) and can return to the active roster on Oct. 21.
Under the NFL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, the suspension may be appealed.
–Field Level Media
