By Blessing 
Former NFL Quarterback Demands Suspension for Lions Defender After Chiefs Clash
Former quarterback and current ESPN analyst Robert Griffin III has urged the NFL to suspend Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch following a tense postgame altercation with Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster.
The confrontation unfolded just moments after Kansas City closed out a 30-17 win on Sunday Night Football. As players exchanged postgame gestures, emotions ran high, and the situation quickly spiraled into chaos.
On X (formerly Twitter), Griffin III made his stance clear.
> “Brian Branch started the fight in the field. Brian Branch threw a punch and knocked JuJu Smith-Schuster down. Brian Branch should be suspended. THERE IS NO PLACE IN SPORTS FOR THAT,” he wrote.
The post rapidly spread across social media, sparking a wave of debate and placing more pressure on the league to take disciplinary action against Branch after one of the most dramatic finishes of the season.
Tension Boils Over at Midfield
The game itself was all Kansas City, as Patrick Mahomes delivered 257 passing yards and three touchdowns in a statement win. But the postgame tension overshadowed the performance.
Broadcast replays showed Mahomes attempting to greet Branch, but the Lions safety appeared to ignore him. When Smith-Schuster extended his hand next, Branch reportedly struck him across the facemask, knocking the receiver to the turf.
Smith-Schuster quickly got back up, visibly furious, and moved toward Branch again before teammates and staff rushed in to intervene. Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco was among those who stepped between the players as tempers flared.
NFL records show Branch has accumulated $118,391 in fines over the last two seasons, including one earlier this year for a low block against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 3.
Dan Campbell: “It’s Not What We Do Here”
After the game, Lions head coach Dan Campbell didn’t hold back in his postgame remarks.
> “I love Brian Branch, but what he did is inexcusable and it’s not going to be accepted here,” Campbell said. “It’s not what we do. I apologized to Coach [Andy] Reid and the Chiefs. That’s not OK.”
Campbell indicated that Detroit may take internal action even before any official ruling from the league.
Branch later addressed reporters, admitting frustration led to his outburst.
> “It was childish,” he said. “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. I should have never did it.”
Smith-Schuster expressed disbelief afterward.
> “I expected to shake his hand and say good game,” he said. “But he threw a punch.”
The receiver reportedly left the field holding his nose, sparking concern about a possible minor injury.
Under NFL policy, striking another player after the whistle typically results in fines or suspension.
Griffin’s comments reflect the frustration of many fans and players who saw the act as crossing the line. Detroit, now 4-2, heads into Week 7 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with uncertainty over Branch’s availability. Meanwhile, the Chiefs improved to 3-3 and will host the Las Vegas Raiders next.