Watching Monday night’s tilt between the Detroit Lions and Tampa Bay Buccaneers was a little too much for Brian Branch. Serving a one-game suspension for his part in a post-game fight with Chiefs receiver
JuJu Smith-Schuster, Branch opted not to watch the game at all. It was just too much.
“Watching them would make me miss being out there. That’s something that’s hard,” Branch told media on Tuesday. “I would be eager to get out there.”
Branch apologized again on Tuesday for his actions after the Chiefs game, and said he’s been able to lean on some emotional support to help change his actions. For one, his coaching staff has helped him navigate keeping an aggressive mindset on the field, but holding back after the whistle has been blown—even though he knows teams will try to agitate him.
“In a way you don’t (hold emotions back), you just got to be smarter not to—just got to be smarter in certain situations,” Branch said. “Coach tells me all the time that they’re going to pick at me during the play or just trying to get me out of my shell to retaliate, but he said still play with that fire, just learn how to not retaliate when they do that. Just play between the whistle.”
He’s also gotten help from the person who boards his dogs while away: Mr. Preacher, an actual preacher who will baptize Branch during the players’ day off this week on Wednesday. While the suspension wasn’t the motivation for Branch’s religious ritual, he called it perfect timing in the aftermath of the error in judgement.
“Just (wanted to) turn over a new leaf. I feel like I need to be saved by God, just going through a time like that,” Branch said.
But beyond a football and spiritual awakening, Branch also gained even more motivation to perform. He said he gained another chip on his shoulder from the ordeal. So what does that look like on Sunday?
“Just a relentless effort and aggression,” Branch said
Lions defensive assistant/safeties coach Jim O’Neil agreed. He believes Branch will be even more motivated than normal, and that should have opposing offenses on high alert.
“It’s scary, scary, because he’s clearly one of the best players at his position in the league,” O’Neil said.
Another thing that has motivated Branch to get back on the field is his teammates. For one, they supported him with the gesture of wearing his jersey in the locker room after their win over the Buccaneers.
“I feel like I shot our team in the foot with what I did, and for them to have my back, I love them for that,” Branch said. “Like I said, I’ll go to war for them any day of the week.”
Beyond that, he was also extremely inspired by their performance. Despite missing four starters in the secondary—and several depth players—Detroit held a strong Bucs offense to just nine points on the night, the first time they’ve been held under 20 points since Week 3 of 2024.
“All those guys, the whole secondary, honestly, together they played better than how we played, to me, all year,” Branch said. “So I was too eager to get back out (there).”
He’ll get his opportunity to return this week against a talented Minnesota Vikings offense, and it’s clear everyone is thrilled to have him back.
“I’m really excited to see how he takes the field on Sunday when he comes out of the tunnel,” O’Neil said. “It’s great to have him back,. He’s one of my all-time favorite people, all-time favorite players that I’ve ever coached. I love his competitive spirit.”
