Shortly after the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Detroit Lions 30-17, Lions safety Brian Branch surprisingly became a topic of discussion in the media. He was featured in a viral clip from a post-game moment where he ignored Patrick Mahomes and instead hit JuJu Smith-Schuster in the facemask.
What began as a typical post-game ritual escalated into a confrontation, resulting in a significant penalty against Brian. Many fans believe KC and the NFL are accomplices for not charging Juju for his act.
“Heaven help the NFL ever fine KC for a JuJu chicken shit Block in Back …NFL and KC are in Kahoots”
Heaven help the NFL ever fine KC for a JuJu chicken shit Block in Back …NFL and KC are in Kahoots ..
— WoodForLife (@IVC2025FAN) October 13, 2025
NFL Matchup turned into an ugly fight between Juju and Brian Branch
Adam Schefter
Tensions were still high as the teams met to shake hands. Mahomes reached out to Branch, who did not pay him attention but pushed him aside. A few seconds later, Branch struck Smith-Schuster square in the helmet and sent him to the ground. The hit caused Smith-Schuster to bleed through the nose, and mayhem ensued as the players and coaches stormed in to separate the two groups.
Branch later confessed to letting his emotions get the best of him.
“I did a really childish thing.” I’m tired of people doing stuff in between plays, and refs not catching it. They are trying to bully me out there. I shouldn’t have done it; it was childish, “Branch said.
According to safety, JuJu blocked him in the back during the fourth quarter, which is what caused him to explode. Even the refs remained tight-lipped about the situation.
But Lions head coach Dan Campbell was not subtle with words after the game. Campbell said that the act was inexcusable., “I love Brian Branch, but what he did is inexcusable. It won’t be accepted here. It’s not what we do, and it’s not what we’re about. I apologized to Coach Reid, the Chiefs, and Smith-Schuster. That’s not OK.”
Smith-Schuster did not need to be hospitalized and confirmed to Chiefs’ head coach Andy Reid that he had suffered a significant blow to the nose. Smith-Schuster completed and made 57 yards in three receptions, and Mahomes completed and made 257 yards in three TDs and 22-of-30, which took Kansas City to a 3-3 record. The Lions, who had embarked on a four-game winning streak, lost 42.
On Monday, the NFL announced that Branch was suspended without pay and fined an indefinite amount of $55,050. On its part, the league cited unsportsmanlike conduct and post-whistle physical aggression.
BREAKING: Brian Branch fined $55,050 and suspended indefinitely after striking Juju Smith-Schuster after the Chiefs get the victory against Lions
— Earth_Wanderer (@earth_tracker) October 13, 2025
Throughout the league’s investigation, the backlash puts Detroit in a position to manage the story. To Branch, it is a lesson of moderation and to the NFL, it was just another week when the off-the-field action took the headlines.
