Chiefs are not to blame for postgame brawl with Lions, says ex-NFL coach
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Bruce Arians blames Lions' Brian Branch for initiating the postgame brawl.
- Arians argues on-air that in-game physicality differs from postgame conduct.
- Video shows broadcasters and crew fleeing field, highlighting safety and liability risks.
On Tuesday’s episode of “The Pat McAfee Show,” co-host Connor Campbell parroted what many on social media have said about Sunday’s postgame brawl between the Chiefs and Lions.
Although Detroit’s Brian Branch started the altercation by taking a swing at Chiefs receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, the theory is that Branch was provoked by quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Some believe Mahomes taunted Branch after scoring a touchdown.
Another piece of “evidence” shared on social media was when Smith-Schuster delivered what fans believe was an illegal block on Branch.
But former NFL head coach Bruce Arians, who was on “The Pat McAfee Show,” said Branch was to blame. He added that what the Chiefs players did during the game wasn’t out of the ordinary.
“All that (stuff) you’re talking about happening between the lines, that (stuff) goes on every week between the lines,” Arians said. “This is outside the lines, all right? Postgame, most guys are praying. Now you’re bringing civilians in. I’m not sure there’s not some camera member that might (have) gotten kicked that’s gonna have a civil lawsuit.”
A video shared by “Inside the NFL” made Arians’ point. It shows the brawl and members of the television crew, who had come on the field for postgame interviews, scrambling to get away from the players.
Branch was suspended for a game, but Arians said three games would have been warranted.
“There’s no place for this. No place for this postgame, so many people could have got hurt,” said Arians, who won Super Bowl LV with the Buccaneers. “And that could have turned into a huge melee had other guys got involved. Thank God that cooler heads prevailed.”
This story was originally published October 15, 2025 at 9:42 AM.
