Brian Amani Branch (born October 22, 2001) is an American professional football safety for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide, where he was an All-American and a national champion. Branch was selected by the Lions in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft. In 2024, he earned his first Pro Bowl.
| No. 32 – Detroit Lions | |||||||||||||||
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| Position: | Safety | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Born: | October 22, 2001 Fayetteville, Georgia, U.S. | ||||||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 203 lb (92 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| High school: | Sandy Creek (Tyrone, Georgia) | ||||||||||||||
| College: | Alabama (2020–2022) | ||||||||||||||
| NFL draft: | 2023 / round: 2 / pick: 45 | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
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| Roster status: | Active | ||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of 2024 | |||||||||||||||
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Early life
editBranch grew up in Fayetteville, Georgia, and attended Sandy Creek High School.[1] He was named the Georgia 5A Ironman of the Year as a senior.[2] Branch was rated a four-star recruit and committed to play college football at Alabama over offers from Ohio State, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.[3]
College career
editBranch played in 12 games during his freshman season at Alabama and made 27 tackles with seven passes defended and two interceptions.[4] As a sophomore he made 55 tackles with five tackles for loss, one sack, and nine passes defended.[5] Branch led the Crimson Tide with eight tackles and broke up two passes in Alabama's 27–6 win over Cincinnati in the 2021 Cotton Bowl Classic.[6] Branch entered his junior season as one of the top safety prospects for the 2023 NFL draft.[7]
Professional career
edit| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft 11+5⁄8 in (1.82 m) |
190 lb (86 kg) |
30+3⁄4 in (0.78 m) |
9+1⁄2 in (0.24 m) |
4.58 s | 1.56 s | 2.64 s | 4.45 s | 37.5 in (0.95 m) |
10 ft 5 in (3.18 m) |
14 reps | ||
| Sources:[8][9] | ||||||||||||
2023 season
editThe Detroit Lions selected Branch in the second round (45th overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft. In order to assure their ability to draft Branch, the Detroit Lions orchestrated a trade, agreeing to send a second round (48th overall) and fifth round pick (159th overall) in the 2023 NFL Draft to the Green Bay Packers in return for the 45th overall pick used to draft Branch.[10]
| External videos | |
|---|---|
 Detroit Lions draft Branch 45th overall | |
| Branch on being drafted 45th overall |
On July 18, 2023, the Detroit Lions signed Branch to a four-year, $8.02 million contract that includes $5.62 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $2.83 million.[11]
During training camp, Branch competed against C. J. Gardner-Johnson, Will Harris, Ifeatu Melifonwu, and Brady Breeze for the role as the primary backup safety and starting nickelback.[12][13] Head coach Dan Campbell named Branch the starting nickelback to begin the regular season and listed him as a backup free safety, behind starting duo C. J. Gardner-Johnson and Kerby Joseph.[14]
On September 7, 2023, Branch made his professional regular season debut and made three combined tackles (two solo), a pass deflection, and returned his first career interception from a pass attempt thrown by Patrick Mahomes to wide receiver Kadarius Toney for a 50-yard touchdown during a 21–20 win at the Kansas City Chiefs.[15][16] Branch became the first Lions player to record an interception return for a touchdown in his NFL debut since Lem Barney did so in 1967.[17] On September 19, 2023, starting free safety C. J. Gardner-Johnson was placed on injured reserve after suffering a torn pectoral in Week 2. Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn subsequently promoted Branch to starting free safety heading into Week 3.[18] On September 24, 2023, Branch earned his first career start and collected a season-high 11 solo tackles and made two pass deflections during a 20–9 victory against the Atlanta Falcons. In Week 4, he made seven combined tackles (five solo) before he was carted of the field due to an ankle injury as the Lions defeated the Green Bay Packers 34–20. His ankle injury subsequently sidelined him for the next two games (Weeks 5–6).[19] On December 24, 2023, Branch recorded six combined tackles (five solo), two pass deflections, one interception, and had his first career sack on Nick Mullens during a 30–24 victory at the Minnesota Vikings.[20] Branch started seven consecutive games at free safety (Weeks 8–15) before Ifeatu Melifonwu surpassed him on the depth chart and started the last three games. He finished his rookie campaign in 2023 with a total of 74 combined tackles (50 solo), three interceptions, 13 passes defended, one forced fumble, and a single sack in 15 games and nine starts.[21]
2024 season
editBranch entered training camp slated as the starting nickelback and the primary backup safety behind projected starters Ifeatu Melifonwu and Kerby Joseph.[22] Head coach Dan Campbell named Branch the starting free safety to start the regular season, following Ifeatu Melifonwu sustaining an ankle injury in training camp.
He started in the Detroit Lions' home-opener against the Los Angeles Rams and made seven combined tackles (five solo) and a season-high three pass deflections during a 26–20 victory. Branch was sidelined during the Lions' Week 4 win against the Seattle Seahawks due to a knee injury.[23] On December 13, 2024, Branch recorded six combined tackles (five solo), two pass deflections, and intercepted two passes thrown by Dak Prescott during a 47–9 victory at the Dallas Cowboys. His performance in Week 8 earned him NFC Defensive Player of the Week.[24] In Week 15, he collected a season-high 14 combined tackles (eight solo) and deflected a pass in the Lions' 42–48 loss to the Buffalo Bills. He finished his sophomore season in 2024 with 109 combined tackles (79 solo), 16 pass deflections, four interceptions, and a sack in 16 games and 16 starts.[25] Branch was the only defensive player on the Detroit Lions to be voted to the,2025 Pro Bowl.
The Detroit Lions finished the 2024 NFL season first in the NFC North with a 15–2 record and clinched a playoff berth and a first round bye. On January 18, 2025, Branch started in his first postseason appearance and lead his team with 11 combined tackles (eught solo) and had a forced fumble as the Lions lost the Divisional Round 45–31 to the Washington Commanders.[26]
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ "Sandy Creek alum Brian Branch picked in NFL Draft". The Citizen. May 10, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
- ^ Ezring, Cory McCann (June 30, 2022). "Prospect Breakdown: Brian Branch, DB, Alabama". SI.com. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
- ^ Rodak, Mike (December 18, 2019). "Alabama signs four-star Georgia safety Brian Branch". AL.com. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
- ^ Potter, Charlie (September 7, 2021). "Brian Branch seeing benefits of practicing at every DB position". 247Sports.com. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
- ^ Blackwood, Stacey (July 2, 2022). "Alabama's Brian Branch might be the most underrated DB in college football". Roll Tide Wire. USA Today. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
- ^ Casagrande, Michael (January 5, 2022). "Explaining the Brian Branch/Malachi Moore dynamic in Alabama secondary". AL.com. Retrieved August 24, 2022.
- ^ Brugler, Dane (August 18, 2022). "2023 NFL Draft safety class: Antonio Johnson, Brian Branch win with versatility". The Athletic. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
- ^ "Brian Branch Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
- ^ "2023 NFL Draft Scout Brian Branch College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
- ^ Twentyman, Tim (April 28, 2023). "Lions trade up, draft defensive back Brian Branch". DetroitLions.com. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
- ^ "Spotrac.com: Brian Branch contract". Spotrac.com. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
- ^ Jeff Risdon (August 9, 2023). "Breaking down the initial Lions preseason depth chart". lionswire.usatoday.com. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
- ^ Erik Schlitt (July 20, 2023). "2023 Detroit Lions updated Detroit Lions 2023 training camp battles: Safety roster spots may be limited". prideofdetroit.com. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
- ^ "2023 Detroit Lions updated depth chart: Week 1 at Kansas City Chiefs". prideofdetroit.com. September 7, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
- ^ Williams, Charean (September 7, 2023). "Lions Knot the Game 14–14". NBC Sports. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
- ^ Maakaron, John (September 7, 2023). "Brand New Lions Defeat Chiefs, 21–20". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
- ^ Ramsey, Jared (September 7, 2023). "Detroit Lions rookie Brian Branch introduces himself to the NFL in style with pick-six". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
- ^ Woodyard, Eric (September 19, 2023). "Lions place C.J. Gardner-Johnson, James Houston on IR". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
- ^ Nolan Bianchi (September 29, 2023). "Lions coach Dan Campbell optimistic about Brian Branch's ankle injury". DetroitNews.com. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
- ^ "Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings - December 24th, 2023". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
- ^ "Brian Branch 2023 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
- ^ "2023 Detroit Lions updated depth chart: Week 1 at Kansas City Chiefs". prideofdetroit.com. September 7, 2024. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
- ^ "Lions injury update: Carlton Davis, Brian Branch among the wounded". lionswire.usatoday.com. October 16, 2024. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
- ^ Gordon, Grant (October 16, 2024). "Ravens RB Derrick Henry, Buccaneers RB Sean Tucker highlight Players of the Week". NFL.com.
- ^ "Pro-Football-Reference: Brian Branch stats (2024)". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
- ^ "Divisional Round - Washington Commanders at Detroit Lions - January 18th, 2025". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
External links
edit- Brian Branch on Twitter
- Career statistics from ESPN · Yahoo Sports · Pro Football Reference
- Detroit Lions bio
- Alabama Crimson Tide bio