Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch knows he can’t afford to lose his cool, not again. After drawing a costly 15-yard penalty in Sunday’s 27-13 loss to the Green Bay Packers, Branch admitted Wednesday that his helmet toss wasn’t his proudest moment.
Brian Branch Detroit Lions Brian Branch helmet toss vs Packers
The Incident at Lambeau
It all happened on Green Bay’s opening drive. Branch got tangled up with tight end Tucker Kraft, who continued blocking him after the whistle. Frustrated, Branch yanked off Kraft’s helmet and chucked it toward the Lions’ sideline.
Brian Branch grabs Tucker Kraft’s helmet and chucks it over to the sideline 😂
Last year Branch was ejected when in Green Bay crashout man.
LOL pic.twitter.com/ZIeZtmVOgM
— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) September 7, 2025
The result? A flag, an early momentum swing for Green Bay, and another blemish on Branch’s record.
“Hopefully I didn’t, but I probably did,” Branch said as quoted by the Detroit Free Press.
A Pattern Branch Has to Break
Last season, Branch was fined seven times for various illegal hits and on-field incidents. That included one infamous moment in Green Bay when he was ejected and flipped the Lambeau crowd double middle fingers on his way out.
So yeah, Branch knows he has a target on his back when it comes to discipline. And so does his head coach.
“He knows better,” Dan Campbell said after the game. “That was the message. … It was one of the things we talked about, man, keeping your head. So he knows better.”
Brian Branch’s Take
To his credit, Branch isn’t running from the mistake.
“Just got to be the bigger person next time,” he said.
It’s not just about avoiding penalties, it’s about being available and dependable for a defense that can’t afford mental lapses. Branch is one of Detroit’s most versatile playmakers, and the Lions need his energy focused on shutting down opponents, not sparring with them after the whistle.
Bottom Line
The Lions get a chance to reset this Sunday in their home opener against the Chicago Bears. For Branch, that means proving he can channel his intensity the right way, as the guy making game-changing plays, not drawing game-changing penalties.