“Brian Branch Says the Lions Are Battle-Tested and Hungrier Than Ever: “We Want That Super Bowl”
The Detroit Lions took a beating last season — literally — but if you ask Brian Branch, they came out of it tougher, tighter, and even more dangerous.
Branch, who had a breakout 2024 season and earned his first Pro Bowl nod, managed to stay mostly healthy. The same can’t be said for the rest of the Lions’ defense. Star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson broke his leg mid-season. Before that, they lost Marcus Davenport and Derrick Barnes for the year. Then it was Alex Anzalone’s arm, Malcolm Rodriguez’s ACL, Alim McNeill’s ACL, and Carlton Davis’ jaw. It was brutal.
But somehow, Detroit still clawed their way to the NFC’s No. 1 seed. They didn’t quite make it to the Super Bowl, but Branch says the team is coming into 2025 stronger and more locked in than ever.
“We went through the ups and downs. We fought in games where everything was on the line. That stuff brings a team together,” Branch told the Detroit Free Press. “Once a group buys in after going through hell, we feel invincible.”
Let’s not forget — this isn’t the same old Lions team. They’ve been trending up for years. In 2023, they tied a franchise record with 12 wins and came within a game of the Super Bowl. In 2024, they smashed that record, going 15-2 with the league’s top scoring offense and a defense ranked seventh. Even with all the injuries, they tore through the league… until the Commanders stunned them in the Divisional Round.
Now? Detroit’s mostly healthy. They’ve lost some big names — offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn both got head-coaching gigs, and longtime center Frank Ragnow retired. But they’ve made key additions: veteran DBs D.J. Reed, Avonte Maddox, and Rock Ya-Sin will help patch up the secondary, and rookie DT Tyleik Williams is expected to make an immediate impact.
And yeah, Branch is feeling confident.
“I feel like we’re better than last year,” he said. “We’re hungry, and that hunger’s gonna separate us. Our chemistry is on another level.”
Winning 15 games again won’t be easy — that’s rare air. But this team isn’t chasing regular-season glory anymore. It’s Super Bowl or bust in Detroit. And if they stay healthy, they might just have the squad to finally make it happen.
“Last year, injuries were against us,” Branch said. “This year, we’re healthy, we’re hungry, and we’ve still got the same mission. We’re trying to get that Super Bowl.”
Injuries Toughened Us Up — Now We Want It All, Says Brian Branch
