New footage has surfaced from the postgame altercation between the Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions after Chiefs head coach Andy Reid claimed that JuJu Smith-Schuster was attacked without provocation.
The Chiefs defeated the Lions 30-17 at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday night, but tensions escalated during the postgame handshakes. Lions safety Brian Branch struck Smith-Schuster, sparking a fight that quickly involved players from both sides.
Branch later apologized for his “immature” actions but claimed that Smith-Schuster had hit him in the back following a late-game play. Ground-level video of the scuffle shows Smith-Schuster bleeding from his nose after the blow.
In the game’s closing minutes, Kansas City led by 10 with under four minutes left. During a rushing play, Smith-Schuster made contact with Branch, and the two exchanged words on the field.
After the game, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes tried to shake Branch’s hand, but the Lions defender ignored him. Moments later, Branch approached Smith-Schuster and hit him forcefully on the helmet.
Stunned by the strike, Smith-Schuster ran at Branch in response, but Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco stepped in to restrain him. However, the situation escalated, and a full-team skirmish erupted moments later.
Reid expressed frustration afterward, condemning Branch’s actions. “The guy came up and hit JuJu for what seemed like no reason,” Reid said. “It was bad, and JuJu’s nose was busted up pretty good.”
Smith-Schuster suffered a bloody nose, and Branch could now face an NFL fine or possible suspension as the league investigates the incident at the end of Sunday’s contest.
Branch admitted fault but tried to explain what led to the outburst. “I did something real childish,” he said. “Guys keep doing dirty stuff between plays, and refs don’t call it. They try to bully me. I shouldn’t have reacted, but I got blocked illegally in the back, right in front of the ref.”
“I could’ve been injured, but I still shouldn’t have acted like that,” he continued. “There was a lot going on, but I lost my cool and I apologize for that.”
Lions head coach Dan Campbell also voiced his disappointment with Branch’s behavior in his postgame remarks. “Let me start by saying this,” Campbell said. “I love Brian Branch, but that was unacceptable and won’t be tolerated here.”
“That’s not who we are or what we represent,” Campbell continued. “I apologized to Coach Reid, the Chiefs, and JuJu. It’s not acceptable, and everyone on our team knows that. That’s not how we do things, and it won’t happen again.”
