Chiefs vs Lions Post-Game Brawl: Brian Branch Slaps JuJu, Chaos Erupts
Kansas City, Missouri – The electrifying Sunday Night Football clash between the Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions in Week 6 of the NFL (October 12, 2025) ended with a 30-17 Chiefs victory, but it was the post-game brawl that stole the spotlight. A viral video circulating on social media platforms like X captured Lions safety Brian Branch refusing to shake hands with Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, sparking a heated confrontation with Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster that culminated in Branch delivering a fiery slap, igniting a chaotic melee involving dozens of players.
What Sparked the Fight?
According to footage from NBC and posts on X from accounts like @TheAthletic and @awfulannouncing, the incident began seconds after the final whistle at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mahomes, known for his sportsmanship, approached Lions players for customary handshakes. Brian Branch, a fiery safety with a history of three altercations this season, turned his back on Mahomes, snubbing the gesture.
JuJu Smith-Schuster, never one to shy away from drama, took offense. Witnesses reported him shouting, “Who do you think you are, not shaking his hand?” (paraphrased from X posts). Branch, unfazed, responded by slapping Smith-Schuster across the face—while JuJu was still wearing his helmet. Sources suggest blood trickled from Smith-Schuster’s nose, though this remains unconfirmed.
Within moments, the situation escalated. Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce attempted to intervene but got caught in the fray, while Lions stars Aidan Hutchinson and David Montgomery shoved opposing players. Helmets flew, and shouts echoed across the field. A near-two-minute clip from @SNFonNBC showed the 30-second scrum before referees, Lions coach Dan Campbell, and Chiefs coach Andy Reid restored order.
A fine is coming for Brian Branch.
pic.twitter.com/9O8k1DNx0O— JPA (@jasrifootball) October 13, 2025
Reactions and Potential Consequences
NBC’s Cris Collinsworth remarked live, “The league will come down hard on Branch. That’s an unacceptable hit.” Branch, already flagged multiple times this season for rough play, faces a likely 1-2 game suspension—a blow to the Lions (now 4-2) who are thin at secondary.
Coach Campbell addressed the incident post-game: “We’re disappointed with the loss, but our spirit’s intact. That post-game stuff? Unprofessional.” Chiefs coach Reid took a lighter tone: “It’s football—tempers flare, but we’ll handle it internally.” Mahomes, ever the diplomat, said, “I just wanted to congratulate them. Let’s not let drama overshadow a great game.”
The video exploded online, amassing over 1 million views in an hour, becoming the night’s unintended highlight. The Chiefs (3-3) solidified their Super Bowl contender status, while the Lions must quell internal tensions ahead of Week 7.
The game itself was a thriller, with Mahomes throwing four touchdowns and Lions’ Jahmyr Gibbs dazzling with a 60-yard run. Yet, it’s the post-game “war” that will dominate ESPN and NFL Network discussions this week. NFL football: where on-field triumphs can spark off-field battles.
(Sources: NBC footage, X posts from @TheAthletic, @_MLFootball, and post-game reports from Freep.com)
