Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell held a press conference on Tuesday, the first since his postgame media session following the team’s 30-17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Immediately after the game, Campbell disavowed the actions of safety Brian Branch, who started a fight during post-game handshakes. The Lions coach called Branch’s actions “inexcusable” and “not what we do here.”
Since then, Branch has been handed a one-game suspension, which—if Branch’s appeal fails—will force him to miss Monday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
On Tuesday, Campbell defended Branch’s character, chalking the fight up to a learning experience.
“He’s an outstanding young man, he really is. He’s got a big heart, and he made a mistake. He’ll learn from it,” Campbell said.
Campbell said he’s talked to Branch since the game, talking face-to-face with the Lions’ safety before the suspension was announced (Branch is currently not allowed in the facility). He believes Branch understands the gravity of his actions and that it’s unacceptable moving forward.
This isn’t the first time Branch has gotten into hot water due to his emotions getting the better of him. After being ejected against the Packers in 2023 for an illegal hit, Branch flipped off the Green Bay crowd, resulting in another penalty and a fine. Earlier this season against the Packers (again), he tossed the helmet of Packers tight end Tucker Kraft, resulting in a personal foul penalty.
Despite the repeated offenses, Campbell remains confident that Branch will course-correct.
“He understands all that. He knows he can’t react that way, and he’ll be better for this. He’ll learn from it,” Campbell said.
In the meantime, Campbell is moving forward under the assumption they won’t have Branch. And with Kerby Joseph battling a knee injury, it could leave the Lions’ secondary even more shorthanded than they’ve been.
“Everybody else has got to pull a little bit more of that load,” Campbell said. “Between the corners and the linebackers and the D-line and offense and special teams. And so, we’ve just got to help each other out. I mean (Thomas Harper) Harp went in the other day, he didn’t play a ton, but it’s what we have seen in practice. I mean, there’s some stuff in there, there’s a few things in there that are pretty encouraging. We don’t have a problem with him being in there. We’ll play with what we’ve got.”
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