The Detroit Lions defense is heading into the 2025 NFL season with a chip on its shoulder—and a growing sense of confidence. Despite some experts casting doubt on whether new defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard can match Aaron Glenn’s success, the young Lions defenders believe they’ve turned last year’s challenges into fuel.
Safety Brian Branch, now entering his third season, shared that battling through tough games and high-pressure moments has forged an unbreakable bond among the unit. Speaking before training camp, he described how those experiences have made the defense feel unstoppable.
“We went through the ups and downs. We fought together in tough games. We’ve been in games where it all came down to us,” Branch told the Detroit Free Press. “That makes everyone buy in. Once you have a group that’s been through trials and tribulations together, we feel invincible.”
Branch also expressed confidence that the defense will reach new heights under Sheppard’s leadership. “I feel like we’re better than last year,” he said. “We’re hungry, and that hunger is what’s going to separate us. Our chemistry is on a whole other level.”
Meanwhile, Lions safeties coach Jim O’Neil praised Branch for his unique ability to match up with both tight ends and receivers—something rare for a safety. O’Neil explained that Branch’s man-coverage skills will be put to the test throughout OTAs, training camp, and preseason games, as the team looks to sharpen its secondary.
The Lions defense knows the expectations are sky-high in Detroit. But with Branch and the rest of the young core fired up, the group is determined to prove its doubters wrong—and to show that last season’s adversity has only made them stronger.
Detroit’s Brian Branch Declares Lions Defense Ready to Dominate
