A post-game altercation following the Kansas City chiefs’ 21-20 victory over the Detroit Lions on Sunday night involved Lions safety Brian branch and multiple players from both teams. The incident, sparked by Branch‘s actions after the final kneel-down, is now under NFL review and could result in fines or suspensions.
Branch has a history of on-field disciplinary issues, having already accrued over $100,000 in fines and $23,186 in docked pay during his first three NFL seasons.This latest incident raises questions about his conduct and potential consequences, impacting both his personal finances and the Lions’ team image as they navigate a competitive season. The NFL is expected too announce disciplinary action in the coming days, potentially setting a precedent for similar behavior.
The sequence began after Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes took a final kneel to secure the win. Broadcast footage showed Branch crossing the line of scrimmage and initially refusing to shake Mahomes’ hand. A brief exchange then occured between Branch and Chiefs receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, culminating in Branch striking Smith-Schuster with an open hand.
Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco instantly intervened, attempting to separate Branch from Smith-Schuster, which quickly escalated into a larger scuffle involving players from both teams.Additional punches from Branch were visible before the situation was diffused.
“We play the game in between the whistles,” Mahomes stated to NBC’s melissa Stark after the game. “They can do all the extra-curricular stuff they want to do. But we thought we played a great game today,and we’ll keep this momentum moving forward.”
Branch entered Sunday’s game listed as questionable due to an ankle injury and recorded seven tackles during the contest. The NFL will now review game footage and gather details to determine appropriate disciplinary measures for Branch and any other players involved in the post-game incident.
