Detroit, MI – October 13, 2025 (1:15 AM ET)

The Detroit Lions have officially announced internal disciplinary action against safety Brian Branch following his involvement in a heated post-game altercation with

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster.

Branch was seen striking Smith-Schuster across the facemask moments after the Chiefs sealed a 30–17 victory. The incident occurred during postgame handshakes after

Patrick Mahomes kneeled to run out the clock — an image that quickly went viral and drew widespread criticism from fans and analysts alike.

🏈 Two Key Moments Under Review

According to the Lions’ internal statement, Branch’s frustration stemmed from an earlier block-in-the-back play by Smith-Schuster that was not flagged by officials. The missed call occurred late in the fourth quarter, with Branch visibly appealing for a penalty as the play continued.

Team sources told The Detroit Free Press that the lack of a call “ignited the emotions” leading to Branch’s outburst minutes later. Following the game, Branch admitted his actions were “unacceptable,” saying he “should’ve handled it better.”

💰 Lions Issue Fine and Mandatory Community Service

On Sunday night, the Lions’ front office, led by general manager Brad Holmes, issued a team fine of $10,000 and mandated Branch to

participate in community outreach programs for the next four consecutive weeks.

Holmes released a strong statement addressing both accountability and fairness:

“Brian Branch’s frustration came from a missed block-in-the-back call that wasn’t flagged during the game. But he will be held accountable — what happened doesn’t reflect the values of this organization. Still, the NFL needs to review the officiating, because there were far too many missed calls tonight.”

 

⚖️ Balancing Accountability and Fairness

The team emphasized that while Branch’s conduct violated internal standards, they also stood firm on their belief that officiating inconsistencies contributed to the escalation. Head coach

Dan Campbell privately met with Branch after the game and supported the front office’s decision, calling it “a teaching moment, not a punishment.”

Branch will not face suspension from the team but will

donate his time to youth football programs and Detroit community centers over the next month as part of his internal penalty.

🦁 Looking Ahead

The Lions, now 4–2, are preparing for their

Week 7 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With Branch expected to return after his league suspension, the team hopes the incident serves as a reminder of Detroit’s commitment to both

toughness and integrity.

As one team insider put it:

“The Lions play with emotion — that’s who they are. But the organization wants that emotion to inspire, not explode.”