Brian Branch ejection: Dan Campbell comments on dismissal of Lions DB

Brian Branch was ejected from the Detroit Lions’ 24-14 win over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday after a dangerous-looking helmet-to-helmet hit on Packers wide receiver Bo Melton.

Following the game, Lions head coach Dan Campbell was asked about the ejection, and it sounds as if the decision to throw Branch out came not from the on-field officials but from the officiating crew watching the game from the replay review center in New York.

“The only explanation I got — those guys did a great job, (referee) Clete (Blakeman) and them, I got a lot of respect for what they do — they just said it came from (the league office in) New York. That’s all l’ve got on it,” Campbell said, according to Detroit News beat writer Nolan Bianchi. “That’s the first time l’ve ever been a part of something like that, since l’ve been a head coach, that somebody got ejected. So I didn’t see it. I don’t know.”

It’s obviously too early to tell if Branch will face further punishment from the league following his ejection — for either the hit or his obscene gesture toward the Packers sideline while leaving the field.

Either way, the Lions won the game, improving to 6-1 on the season.

Here's the full quote from Dan Campbell on Brian Branch's ejection #Lions pic.twitter.com/IOq4mZ5sfK

— Nolan Bianchi (@nolanbianchi) November 4, 2024

Sydney Hunte

Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.