Brian Branch has been playing with the Detroit Lions since 2023 and has been a solid player at his position. By his second season, he was an undisputed starter, but he has always drawn attention for that green thing on his helmet, which is nothing more than his mouthguard.

During his rookie year in Detroit, people wanted to know what the deal was and why he wore it on his helmet. “I put it up there, because I can’t really breathe with it in,” Branch told Sports Illustrated in 2023.

But it wasn’t a habit he started in the NFL; he has been wearing his mouthguard on his helmet since college. “I’ve been playing with it like that since college, so I guess it’s like tradition,” he said. He also noted that another reason he wears it on his helmet is in case he needs to play longer than normal i

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