NFL Films pulls latest ‘NFL Turning Point’ episode after backlash over Brian Branch segment

NFL Films removed its newest episode of NFL Turning Point after facing widespread criticism for a segment that appeared to single out Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch. The network later released a statement explaining the decision following an uproar on social media.

Branch apologized after the game but said his frustration came from missed penalties by officials, including a fourth-quarter body check from JuJu Smith-Schuster. NFL Films said it tried to add context to his reaction, but the footage was later deleted amid backlash.

Produced in partnership with ESPN, NFL Turning Point highlights a key storyline from each week’s slate of games. For Week 6, the show centered on Branch, depicting several moments where he was beaten on defense and missed tackles during the Lions’ matchup with the Chiefs.

The episode also featured the hit by Smith-Schuster that preceded a late-game altercation. The goal, according to NFL Films, was to show the sequence from Branch’s point of view. However, fans argued the feature unfairly spotlighted his struggles and came across as disrespectful.

Narration was provided by ESPN’s Louis Riddick, who discussed Branch’s rough outing. “He got showed up by (Patrick) Mahomes, juked by Xavier Worthy, and took a shot from JuJu Smith-Schuster. The turning point led to Branch’s boiling point,” Riddick said during the segment.

After heavy criticism, NFL Films took down the clip and clarified its reasoning. “NFL Films wants all its shows to have a distinct voice and point of view,” the company said. “For NFL Turning Point, that voice belongs to Louis Riddick, who collaborates closely with producers and reviews every script.”

The statement continued, “That sequence felt balanced as part of a nine-minute breakdown of the Lions-Chiefs game but appeared overly critical when viewed alone on social media. On X, it didn’t reflect our intended tone toward Brian Branch, so it was removed.”

Following the controversy, Riddick posted his own message on X. “I have nothing but respect for the Detroit Lions organization — ownership, coaches, general manager, and players,” he wrote. “The Turning Point episode about the Chiefs-Lions game didn’t come across as it should have.”

“The intent is always to document the game collaboratively — good and bad — never to produce a ‘hit piece’ on any team or player,” Riddick added. “I understand how the short clip may have seemed unfair to the Lions or Brian Branch. I’ll ensure that anything connected to my name won’t be misinterpreted that way again.”