Everything Chiefs Said on Postgame Branch Incident

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – In something resembling a cobra striking an inquisitive mammal, Brian Branch delivered a lightning-like blow to the face of JuJu Smith-Schuster during the closing seconds of the Chiefs’ 30-17 win over Detroit Sunday night.

NBC cameras showed Patrick Mahomes offered the Lions’ safety a handshake. And after Branch denied him, Smith-Schuster absorbed the end result of Branch’s anger.

dan campbel — Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell tries pull safety Brian Branch out from the scuffle after 30-17 loss to Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Here’s an assortment of what both teams said following the incident:

‘A childish thing’

“I did a little childish thing,” Branch said, courtesy of the Detroit Free Press, “but I’m tired of people doing stuff in between the play and refs don’t catch it. They be trying to bully me out there and I don’t – I shouldn’t have did it. It was childish.

“I got blocked in the back illegally and it was in front of the ref. The ref didn’t do anything and just stuff like that. And that’s – I could have got hurt off of that, but it’s still, I still shouldn’t have done that.”

branch, smith-schuste — Oct 12, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch (not pictured) and Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster (9) get into a fight after the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images | Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Branch said Smith-Schuster hit him toward the end of the game, and that wasn’t the only thing that set off the Pro Bowl safety.

“Yeah, there was a lot of stuff but I should have showed it between the whistle, not after the game and I apologize for that.”

'What he did is inexcusable'

Branch’s head coach didn’t want to hear it, and already extended apologies to Andy Reid before meeting reporters after the game.

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

Underneath a bloody nose

Smith-Schuster wasn’t apologizing, especially after he saw blood flowing from his nose.

While Reid and Patrick Mahomes were addressing the topic at the podium, Smith-Schuster spoke to reporters in the locker room.

juju smith-schuste — Oct 12, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster (9) makes a catch over Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch (32) during the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images

“I know he's a better player than that, a better person,” Smith-Schuster said of Branch, courtesy of Jesse Newell from The Athletic. “He'll learn from his mistakes.

Chiefs WR JuJu Smith-Schuster said he believed Lions DB Brian Branch was frustrated because of JuJu's blocks on him throughout the game. "Just doing my job," Smith-Schuster said. "I played between the whistles, and after the game, he took advantage of what he did."
— Jesse Newell (@jessenewell) October 13, 2025

“Just doing my job,” Smith-Schuster said. “I played between the whistles, and after the game, he took advantage of what he did.”

The league might fine Smith-Schuster, in addition to the obvious discipline in Branch’s future. Completely shocked that Branch smacked him to the ground, the veteran receiver jumped up and went after Branch as Isiah Pacheco tried to calm down the safety. He also might be fined after fourth-quarter video surfaced of Smith-Schuster, indeed, leveling Branch in the back.

isiah pachec — Oct 12, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (10) rushes the ball against the Detroit Lions during the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images | Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

On to the Raiders

Reid was just as shocked as television viewers.

“Yeah, you guys saw it,” the coach said afterward. “I mean, the guy came up and hit JuJu for looked like no reason. We were taking a knee. So, that's tough. I mean, put pretty good damage on JuJu’s nose.”

patrick mahome — Oct 12, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) reacts after a play /against the Detroit Lions during the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images | Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

And Mahomes had already closed the book on the incident 30 minutes after the game when speaking at that podium.

“Yeah, I mean, at this point,” said Mahomes, who wasn’t hurt in the postgame fight, “it's kind of, it is what it is, you know. You just kind of move on. I mean, we won the football game. I thought we played great and did a great job. Played well, but now we’re on to the Raiders.”

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