Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes go off on Lions star who sparked huge Chiefs brawl with punch as Dan Campbell apologizes

The Kansas City Chiefs’ 30-17 victory against the Detroit Lions on Sunday was overshadowed by a brawl involving multiple players from both teams.

The melee stemmed from Lions defensive back Brian Branch, who refused to shake Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ hand after the game at Arrowhead Stadium had ended.

The snub appeared to irk Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, who tried to approach Branch and appeared to extend his own hand.

However, the Lions DB wasn’t having any of it, and sucker-punched Smith-Schuster in the helmet, sparking a scuffle involving the likes of Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco and cornerback Trent McDuffie.

Players from both teams quickly became involved in the brawl in the middle of the field before officials and coaching staff intervened and calmed the situation down.

Mahomes and Reid sound off on Lions star for punching JuJu Smith-Schuster
A video later emerged showing JuJu Smith-Schuster walking to the locker room with a towel covering his nose.

Mahomes, addressed the altercation in a postgame interview with NBC, throwing a subtle shot at the Lions.

“We play the game in between the whistles,” Mahomes said.

“They can do all the extra-curricular stuff they want to do. But we thought we played a great game today, and we’ll keep this momentum moving forward,” he said.

“I mean, we’re [in the middle of] taking a knee… yeah that’s tough.

“But pretty good damage on JuJu’s nose.”

Dan Campbell and Branch issue apology on behalf of Lions
Following the incident, Lions head coach Dan Campbell condemned Branch’s actions and apologized to the Chiefs.

“I love Brian Branch but what he did is inexcusable,” Campbell told reporters.

“And it’s not gonna be accepted here. It’s not what we do, it’s not what we’re about. I apologize to Coach [Andy] Reid and the Chiefs and, you know, [Smith-]Schuster. That’s not OK. That’s not what we do here. And it’s not gonna be OK. He knows it. Our team knows it. That’s not what we do.”

Branch also addressed his role in the melee.

“I did a little childish thing,” he said. “But I’m tired of people doing stuff in between the plays and the ref don’t catch it, trying to bully me out there.

“But I should’ve never did it. It was childish.”

“I got blocked in the back illegally,” he said. “It was in front of the ref and the ref didn’t do anything. Just stuff like that. I could’ve gotten hurt off that. I still shouldn’t have done that.”

Asked if he felt the Chiefs tried rubbing it in, Branch added, “It was a lot of stuff. But I should’ve shown it between the whistles. Not after the game. I apologized for that.”

“I made a good block,” Smith-Schuster added.

“He obviously responded after the game. At the end of the day, it’s about the team win.”

The league has emphasized sportsmanship this season and it seems a foregone conclusion that Branch will be punished in some capacity.

It wouldn’t be the first time either; Branch has already been fined three times this season and was fined seven times last season.

Per ESPN Senior NFL Insider, “the skirmish between Lions safety Brian Branch and Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster after last night’s game will be reviewed and, in the words of an NFL official, ‘determinations on discipline made from there.'”

In the end, the Chiefs had the last laugh, improving to 3-3 for the season while the Lions slipped to 4-2.

Mahomes threw for 257 yards and three touchdowns, and scrambled for another score.