As Kansas City secured its third win of the season, an incident involving Mahomes, Smith-Schuster and Branch broke out.
Chiefs-Lions fight: How spat involving Patrick Mahomes, Juju Smith-Schuster, Brian Branch led to postgame scuffle originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Just as the were securing their 30-17 victory over the on Sunday night, a scuffle broke out.
Patrick Mahomes had just taken a knee after a four-touchdown performance. But just as he did so, Lions safety Brian Branch and Chiefs wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster exchanged hits, causing both teams to get into a shoving match around the middle of the field.
Just prior to the scuffle, Mahomes appeared to offer a handshake to Branch, who ignored him. Earlier in the game, Mahomes had celebrated a rushing touchdown directly in front of the Detroit defender.
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Here's a breakdown of how Chiefs vs. Lions on "Sunday Night Football" ended in a physical altercation between the two sides, led by Branch and Smith-Schuster.
MORE: How Lions had touchdown called back for illegal motion vs. Chiefs
Chiefs-Lions fight at end of Sunday Night Football
The preface to the Mahomes-Branch situation to end Sunday's matchup was the quarterback's rushing touchdown earlier in the night. As Mahomes ran up the middle into the end zone, Branch had approached him at the last second.
After scoring, Mahomes appeared to turn toward Branch, spin the football and point at him while celebrating.
Patrick Mahomes flexed on Brian Branch… pic.twitter.com/6allw946HG
— Woodward Sports Network (@woodwardsports) October 13, 2025
Mahomes keeps it for the rushing TD!
— NFL (@NFL) October 13, 2025
DETvsKC on NBC
Stream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/MaGwHRiiuL
Flash forward to the end of the Week 6 game, as the Chiefs were taking a knee to seal the win, Branch was unhappy. As the safety was walking past Mahomes, the Kansas City star offered him a handshake, even touching Branch's arm to get his attention.
Branch completely ignored Mahomes, and Smith-Schuster appeared to notice and confront Branch about that interaction. Just after Mahomes made his final knee to end the game, Branch then approached Smith-Schuster, hitting him in the helmet.
Smith-Schuster retaliated just as the Chiefs' bench came onto the field to break it up and Lions players came in for support as well. By the end, there was a mess of players either shoving one another or trying to break up the altercation.
A fight broke out at the end of the Lions-Chiefs game.
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) October 13, 2025
The events that led to it:
◽️ Brian Branch refused to shake hands with Patrick Mahomes
◽️ JuJu Smith-Schuster confronted Branch
◽️ Branch slapped Smith-Schuster
🎥 @SNFonNBC | H/T @Rate_the_Refspic.twitter.com/Ki4xjhHOMD
Brawl at the end of Sunday Night Football between Brian Branch and Juju Smith-Schuster. #detroitlions#kansascitychiefs#NFL#DETvsKCpic.twitter.com/sdcWsMp4WA
— Talking Grit: Detroit Lions Podcast (@talkinggritpod) October 13, 2025
Mahomes stepped in toward the altercation when he noticed Branch and Smith-Schuster going at it.
HUGE FIGHT IN CHIEFS-LIONS
— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) October 13, 2025
MAHOMES STEPS IN!! pic.twitter.com/85Gst4NWGB
Here's another angle of the full interaction. Mahomes takes the knee, Branch walks towards Smith-Schuster and hits him, then Smith-Schuster sprints back and hits Branch back as the two sparked the incident in the middle of the field.
Chiefs and Lions scuffle post game. pic.twitter.com/GHO8y3oKia
— Zachary 🏙️ (@ZachIsHere) October 13, 2025
A photo of Isiah Pacheco tackling Branch postgame also emerged from the interaction:
This photo of Isiah Pacheco, Brian Branch and JuJu Smith-Schuster 😳
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) October 13, 2025
(📸: Ed Zurga, AP) pic.twitter.com/FNgsg6LeyJ
Smith-Schuster was seen walking to the locker room with a towel over his nose after the altercation.
JuJu Smith-Schuster took a punch from Lions safety Brian Branch at the end of the #Chiefs 30-17 win….holding a towel to his nose on his way to the lockerroom. pic.twitter.com/FL47w3lhS7
— Sports Radio 810 WHB (@SportsRadio810) October 13, 2025
MORE:Updates, highlights from Chiefs vs. Lions
What did Patrick Mahomes say about Brian Branch?
Postgame, Mahomes was asked by NBC's broadcast crew about the scuffle.
"They can do all the extracurricular stuff they want to do, but we play the game in-between the whistles," Mahomes said.
NBC's Melissa Stark: "What just happened there at the end of the game?"
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 13, 2025
Patrick Mahomes: "I mean, we play the game in between the whistles. They can do all the extracurricular stuff they want to do, but we play the game in between the whistles." 🏈🎙️ #NFLhttps://t.co/pIkIXwPYP4pic.twitter.com/TGGaQIUJDq
Will Brian Branch be fined by the NFL?
There has been no official word from the NFL about potential punishments for Branch, Smith-Schuster, etc. from Sunday night's scuffle between the Lions and Chiefs.
However, given the league's policies and history of punishing players for on-the-field fights, it's likely that Branch and Smith Schuster will be hearing from the league in the coming days.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell called Branch's actions "inexcusable" postgame.
"It's not what we're about," Campbell said. "That's not what we do here."
Dan Campbell: “I love Brian Branch but that was inexcusable.” pic.twitter.com/aUwa0i7wqz
— Nolan Bianchi (@nolanbianchi) October 13, 2025
Category: Football
