Brian Branch explains his unique mouthguard tradition with the Lions

Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch wears a green mouthguard on his helmet as part of a personal tradition. He developed this habit while playing at Alabama, where he found it difficult to breathe with the mouthguard in his mouth. Unlike many players who use mouthguards during plays, Branch keeps his in his helmet throughout the game. He chose a green mouthguard for personal reasons but did not elaborate further. Branch was drafted in 2023 and has become a key player for the Lions. He was selected 45th overall, despite being projected as a first-round talent.