Brian Branch

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.

Brian Branch

Branch in 2023
No. 32 – Detroit Lions
Position:	Safety
Personal information
Born:	(2001-10-22) October 22, 2001 (age 23) 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: 2nd round, 45th pick
Career history
Detroit Lions (2023–present)
Roster status:	Active
Career highlights and awards
Pro Bowl (2024) CFP national champion (2020) First-team All-American (2022) Second-team All-SEC (2022)
Career NFL statistics as of 2024
Total tackles: 183 Sacks: 2.0 Forced fumbles: 2 Pass deflections: 29 Interceptions: 7 Defensive touchdowns: 1 Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early life

Branch 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

Branch 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

Pre-draft

External videos
2023 Draft Prospects: Brian Branch
Brian Branch's College Highlights

Pro Football Focus had him listed as the top safety prospect (15th overall) on their big board.^[8] He was unanimously regarded as the No. 1 safety prospect in the draft by NFL draft analysts Bucky Brooks of NFL.com, Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN, and Dane Brugler of the Athletic. NFL media analyst Daniel Jeremiah had Branch ranked as the sixth best cornerback prospect (31st overall) in the draft.^[9]

External videos
Brian Branch runs 4.58s 40-yard dash
2023 Combine Highlights: Brian Branch

Pre-draft measurables

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:[10][11]

2023

The Detroit Lions selected Branch in the second round (45th overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft. The Lions executed a trade with the Green Bay Packers in order to secure their ability to select Branch and agreed to send them a 2023 second-round pick (48th overall) and a fifth-round pick (159th overall) in return for their second-round pick (45th overall) used to immediately select Branch.^[12] Although he was selected 45th overall, Branch would be the first safety drafted in 2023.

External videos
Detroit Lions select Brian Branch No. 45
Brian Branch reacts to being picked
Branch on being drafted No. 45 by Detroit

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.^[13]

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.^[14][15] 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.^[16]

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.^[17][18] 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.^[19] 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.^[20] 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 off 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).^[21] 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.^[22] 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.^[23] He received an overall grade of 78.9 from Pro Football Focus, which ranked 15th amongst all cornerbacks.^[24]

2024

He entered training camp slated as the starting nickelback and the primary backup safety behind projected starters Ifeatu Melifonwu and Kerby Joseph.^[25] Head coach Dan Campbell named Branch the starting free safety to start the regular season, alongside Kerby Joseph, after Ifeatu Melifonwu was placed on injured reserve after he sustained 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.^[26] 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.^[27] 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.^[28] 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 (eight solo) and had a forced fumble as the Lions lost the Divisional Round 45–31 to the Washington Commanders.^[29]

Notes