DETROIT – Brian Branch became an instant meme after he was ejected during the Detroit Lions’ Week 9 game against the Green Bay Packers and turned off the Lambeau Field crowd as he left the field.

The viral moment didn’t die down with the game. Days after the Lions’ win, Branch’s secondary teammate Kerby Joseph turned the image into a statement.

Joseph had T-shirts printed with the infamous gesture and distributed them in the Lions’ locker room, where the team greeted the moment with humor.

Fast forward to Thursday night at Ford Field, and the rivalry between the Lions and Packers seemed as heated as ever. During prime-time pregame warmups, Joseph and several Lions defenders were seen wearing the jerseys, boldly displaying Branch’s now-iconic defiance.

Branch’s ejection in Week 9 came after a helmet-to-helmet hit on Packers wide receiver Bo Melton. While the play may have earned him a quick exit, his reaction to the call cemented his place in Detroit sports history and created an image that now symbolizes the Lions’ dark identity.

The Lions (11-1) will look to remain undefeated in the NFC North when they take on the Packers (9-3) at Ford Field on Thursday night. This crucial matchup is hugely important in the NFC North title race and could impact both teams’ playoff positioning as the postseason approaches.

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