Brian Branch plays fast, fearless, and physical — exactly what the Detroit Lions love about him. But the NFL’s fine department? Not so much.
After racking up nearly $71,000 in fines last season for lowering his head on tackles, Branch is working with the Lions to keep his edge while avoiding costly penalties. The solution? A custom-built tackling bag — designed just for him.
Branch isn’t dialing back the aggression. He’s just learning how to hit smarter.
“He’s not trying to hurt anyone,” said safeties coach Jim O’Neil. “It’s just a game of split-second decisions, and sometimes a receiver lowers their head at the wrong time.”
To help clean up those moments, the Lions built a tackling bag that forces Branch to stay low and strike properly. Now it’s part of his daily post-practice routine.
It’s all about preserving what makes him elite — his instincts, his physicality, his ability to deliver a statement hit — while keeping him on the field and out of the league’s crosshairs.
Despite the fines, Branch had a stellar 2024. He’s become one of the NFL’s most reliable young safeties, a key piece next to Kerby Joseph in the secondary. The Lions aren’t trying to change who he is — they just want him to keep doing what he does, the right way.
Because when Brian Branch is playing full speed, penalty-free? Detroit’s defense is dangerous.
Lions Build Custom Solution to Keep Brian Branch Hitting Hard — and Avoiding Fines
