The Detroit Lions are among the NFL's elite teams because they are committed to a style of playing with attitude, grit, and moxie. Among the players who embody that spirit is safety Brian Branch, though it sometimes gets him in trouble.
Branch is in his third NFL season, and he has developed a reputation for being a hard-nosed player who sometimes gets carried away with the physicality. As a result, he has been subject to many fines during his time in the league.
These fines were a topic of discussion during Week 6 of the 2025 season, as Branch was at the center of a fight between his Lions and the Kansas City Chiefs at the end of "Sunday Night Football."
"Branch … has a history of multiple fines," NBC announcer Mike Tirico said during the skirmish. "Fined three times this year already. Seven times last year."
Here is more on the fines levied upon the Lions' safety.
MORE: How helmet-to-helmet hits are penalized in the NFL
Brian Branch fines timeline
Branch has been fined over a dozen times through his first three seasons in the NFL.
His first fines came after Week 4 of his rookie season, and, as outlined by Tirico, he picked up seven fines during Year 2 in the NFL. It is worth noting that Branch has received multiple fines for infractions committed in the same game. So, while the incidents are isolated, they aren't always so spread out.
He has been fined over $100,000 in his career. Here is a complete list from Pro Sports Transactions.
Sept. 26, 2025: Branch was fined $11,598 for a low block committed against the Baltimore Ravens during Week 3 of the season.
Branch called for a personal foul for a low block pic.twitter.com/uc3u7UD0VK
— Rate the Refs (@Rate_the_Refs) September 23, 2025
Sept. 12, 2025: The NFL issues two fines to Branch for his actions during a Week 1 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
He was dealt two $11,593 fines — one for a facemask and another for taunting. The $23,186 penalty stemmed from an altercation in which he got into a fight with Packers TE Tucker Kraft.
As the two tussled with one another, Branch removed Kraft's helmet and then tossed it away.
The NFL fined Lions safety Brian Branch $11,593 for unsportsmanlike conduct and another $11,593 for unnecessary roughness for removing Packers tight end Tucker Kraft's helmet.
— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) September 13, 2025
pic.twitter.com/0JjkGj4VZB
Jan. 3, 2025: Branch was fined $10,128 for impermissible use of the helmet (unnecessary roughness) as he committed a hit during a "Monday Night Football" game against the San Francisco 49ers.
It was Branch's seventh and final fine of the 2024 season.
Dec. 20, 2024: The NFL fined Branch $10,128 for taunting after a pass break-up during a late-season showdown with the Buffalo Bills.
MORE: Explaining the NFL's taunting penalty
Nov. 15, 2024: Branch is fined $10,128 for committing a hip-drop tackle during the Lions' Week 10 win over the Houston Texans. While he was fined, Branch was not penalized during the game.
#Lions S Brian Branch was fined $10,128 for this hip-drop tackle on Robert Woods pic.twitter.com/CRo2QRkZ1a
— Nolan Bianchi (@nolanbianchi) November 16, 2024
Nov. 8, 2024: It was a double-fine for Branch, who was ejected for helmet-to-helmet hit against Green Bay in Week 9 of the season.
As he walked toward the Lambeau Field locker rooms, Branch gave the middle finger to Packers fans. He was fined $10,128 for the hit and $10,128 for the obscene gesture.
Lions DB Brian Branch has been ejected from the game after a helmet-to-helmet hit. pic.twitter.com/wgX5m9AOGr
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) November 3, 2024
Sept. 27, 2024: Branch committed two finable offenses in Week 3 of the 2024 season, as he was fined $10,128 for impermissible use of the helmet for a hit on Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride.
The NFL fined #Lions S Brian Branch $10,128 for unnecessary roughness/use of helmet last week on the play that put Branch and #Cardinals TE Trey McBride in concussion protocol.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 28, 2024
Branch was fined another $10,128 for a separate incident in the game. pic.twitter.com/YZhcB0HkJM
Branch was also fined $10,128 for "fighting" as he struck Cardinals TE Tip Reiman during a field goal attempt at the end of the first half.
Dec. 23, 2023: The NFL fined Branch $8,103 for a helmet-to-helmet hit committed in a Week 15 win over the Denver Broncos.
Oct. 6, 2023: The first fines of Branch's NFL career stemmed from two separate incidents in a Week 4 win over the Packers.
Branch was dealt two fines worth $8,103 each for a helmet-to-helmet hit and a horse collar tackle against Detroit's divisional foe. Less than 5 weeks into his NFL career, Branch had been docked $16,206.