Brian Branch became an instant meme after his ejection during the Detroit Lions’ Week 9 game against the Green Bay Packers, flipping off the Lambeau Field crowd as he walked off the field.

The viral moment stuck around long after the game. Days later, Branch’s teammate in the secondary, Kerby Joseph, turned the image into a statement.

Joseph had shirts made featuring the famous gesture and distributed them in the Lions’ locker room, where the team embraced the moment with humor.

Fast forward to Thursday night at Ford Field, and the rivalry between the Lions and Packers appeared as intense as ever. During pregame warmups for their prime-time rematch, Joseph and several Lions defenders were seen wearing the shirts, proudly displaying Branch’s iconic defiance.

Branch’s ejection in Week 9 came after a helmet-to-helmet hit on Packers wide receiver Bo Melton. While the play earned him an immediate exit, his reaction to the call cemented his place in Detroit sports history, creating an image that now embodies the Lions’ tough identity.

The Lions (11-1) aim to stay undefeated in the NFC North as they face the Packers (9-3) Thursday night at Ford Field. This critical matchup holds major implications for the NFC North title race and could impact both teams’ playoff positioning as the postseason approaches.