Detroit Lions defensive back Brian Branch fights with Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

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The NFL has suspended Detroit Lions defensive back Brian Branch for one game for his role in the postgame brawl, following Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

After the Chiefs won 30-17, Branch avoided quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ handshake. Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster saw that and approached Branch, who smacked him in the head, leading to a fight.

The NFL deemed it “unsportsmanlike conduct” and that Branch had violated Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1, which prohibits that and applies to “any act which is contrary to the generally understood principles of sportsmanship.”

NFL vice president of football operations Jon Runyan wrote Branch that: “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.”

The suspension is without pay for Branch, who was slated to earn about $1.5 million this year and already has been fined for actions in two games this season.

The Lions likely knew a suspension was coming. Detroit head coach Dan Campbell began his postgame press conference by apologizing for Branch’s actions.

“I love Brian Branch, but what he did is inexcusable, and it’s not going to be accepted here,” Campbell said. “It’s not what we do. It’s not what we’ re about. I apologize to Coach Reid and the Chiefs and JuJu Smith-Schuster. That’s not okay. That’s not what we do here, and it’s not going to be okay. He knows it. Our team knows it.”

Smith-Schuster was left with a bloodied nose.

“(They) put pretty good damage on JuJu,” Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said. “The guy came up and hit JuJu for what looked like no reason.”

Branch said he did have a reason, though he apologized for it. He said the Chiefs were trying to “bully” him during the game and had illegally blocked him in the back during the game.

Under the collective bargaining agreement, Branch may appeal the suspension. Any appeal will be heard and decided upon by either Derrick Brooks, Ramon Foster or Jordy Nelson, the hearing officers jointly appointed and compensated by the NFL and NFLPA to decide appeals of on-field player discipline.

Branch will be eligible to return to the Lions’ active roster on Tuesday, Oct. 21, following the team’s Oct. 20 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

A Pro Bowler, Branch would be sorely missed against Baker Mayfield, a leading MVP candidate, and the Buccaneers’ passing attack. The Lions are already without injured cornerbacks Terrion Arnold and D.J. Reed.

Branch’s game-changing presence could be seen in the previous time the Lions and Chiefs played.

Then a rookie, he had a pick-six, following Kadarius Toney’s dropped pass.

That play may have led to some simmering tension. After rushing for a touchdown on Sunday night, Mahomes seemed to look back at Branch.

Ultimately, the contentious matchup between two of the best teams in the NFL ended in a brawl.

The Lions are known as a tough team, following Campbell’s lead, but the Chiefs insisted they’ll never back down from a fight.

“That’s a physical football team, and they have a mentality that they come in to play with, and we’re going to match that mentality,” Mahomes said. “We’re not afraid to go up against anybody. That’s the mentality Coach Reid brings in every single day, and we’re going to match the intensity of whoever steps on that football field.”