No. 78, 99, 97, 90 | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Position: | Defensive tackle | ||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||
Born: | Rio Rancho, New Mexico, U.S. | December 29, 1984||||||||||
Height: | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | ||||||||||
Weight: | 350 lb (159 kg) | ||||||||||
Career information | |||||||||||
High school: | Cibola (Albuquerque, New Mexico) | ||||||||||
College: | Michigan (2004–2006) | ||||||||||
NFL draft: | 2007 / Round: 2 / Pick: 33 | ||||||||||
Career history | |||||||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||
Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR |
Alan Keith Branch (born December 29, 1984) is a former American football defensive tackle. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft and has also played for the Seattle Seahawks, Buffalo Bills, and New England Patriots. He played college football at Michigan.
Branch attended Cibola High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico. [1] In addition to playing on the defensive line, Branch also played tight end as well as running back and punt returner in high school. He scored three rushing touchdowns and two receiving touchdowns in his senior season and five punt return touchdowns for his career.
Branch was a fairly highly regarded recruit coming out of high school, ranked as high as #6 nationally among defensive tackles.
Branch was also a three-year starter on the varsity basketball team, earning all-district honors as a sophomore and was second-team all-state as a junior.
Branch, along with fellow defensive all-star LaMarr Woodley, anchored one of the best defenses in college football in 2006. He had 57 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, and nine sacks in 35 career games at Michigan. [2] He had his first interception and a fumble recovery against Ohio State on November 18, 2006. [3] Branch played both defensive tackle and defensive end at Michigan.
He earned the following accolades while at Michigan:
Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 324 lb (147 kg) | 34+1⁄8 in (0.87 m) | 10 in (0.25 m) | 5.07 s | 1.75 s | 2.92 s | 4.79 s | 7.56 s | 27+1⁄2 in (0.70 m) | 8 ft 11 in (2.72 m) | 33 reps |
Branch was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals with the 33rd overall pick in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft. [4] The Cardinals acquired the pick from the Oakland Raiders. [5] In the 2008 NFL season, the Cardinals reached Super Bowl XLIII, but lost 27–23 to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Seattle Seahawks signed Branch to a two-year contract on July 28, 2011. [6]
Branch signed a one-year contract with the Buffalo Bills on April 2, 2013. [7] [8]
On December 23, 2013, Branch signed a multi-year contract extension with the Bills. [9]
On August 24, 2014, one day after being arrested for a DUI, Branch was cut from the team. [10]
On October 21, 2014, it was reported that Branch had signed a 1-year deal with the New England Patriots. The team officially announced the signing on October 29. On February 1, 2015, Branch won his first Super Bowl, defeating his former team, the Seattle Seahawks, by a score of 28–24. [11]
On March 15, 2015, Branch re-signed with the Patriots on a two-year deal worth a maximum of $6.6 million. [12]
On November 21, 2016, Branch was notified that he was facing a four-game suspension for violating the league's policy on substance abuse but did not have to serve any games after the league rescinded the suspension before his appeal was even heard. [13] [14] Branch helped the Patriots win 14 games and earn the top seed for the AFC playoffs. [15]
On February 5, 2017, Branch was part of the Patriots team that won Super Bowl LI. In the game, the Patriots defeated the Atlanta Falcons by a score of 34–28 in overtime. [16] The Patriots trailed 28–3 in the third quarter, but rallied all the way back to win the game, which featured the first overtime game in Super Bowl history and the largest comeback in the Super Bowl. Branch recorded three tackles, 0.5 sacks, and a crucial fumble recovery in the game. [17] [18]
On March 9, 2017, Branch signed a two-year, $12 million contract extension with the Patriots. [19] Branch played 12 games in the 2017 season and recorded 12 tackles. Branch was inactive for the playoffs, but the Patriots still made it to the Super Bowl without him only to fall to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LII.
On March 6, 2018, the Patriots declined the option on Branch's contract, making him a free agent in 2018. [20]
Year | Team | GP | Comb | Solo | Asst | Sack | FF | FR | Yds | Int | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | PD |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2007 | ARI | 11 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2008 | ARI | 4 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2009 | ARI | 16 | 18 | 14 | 4 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
2010 | ARI | 16 | 35 | 27 | 8 | 2.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
2011 | SEA | 15 | 34 | 21 | 13 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
2012 | SEA | 16 | 29 | 16 | 13 | 1.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
2013 | BUF | 16 | 39 | 21 | 18 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
2014 | NE | 8 | 13 | 8 | 5 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
2015 | NE | 16 | 35 | 22 | 13 | 1.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
2016 | NE | 16 | 49 | 26 | 23 | 1.5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
2017 | NE | 12 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career | 146 | 279 | 180 | 99 | 10.5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
Tajuan Edward "Ty" Law is a former American football cornerback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 15 seasons, primarily with the New England Patriots. He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines and was selected by the Patriots in the first round of the 1995 NFL Draft. During his 10 seasons in New England, he received four Pro Bowl selections and two first-team All-Pro honors. A three-time Super Bowl winner with the Patriots, Law also holds the franchise record for interceptions. Law spent his final five seasons as a member of the New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs, and Denver Broncos, earning a fifth Pro Bowl selection with the Jets. Ranking 24th in NFL career interceptions, he twice led the league in interceptions during the 1998 and 2005 seasons. He was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019.
Lawyer Marzell Milloy is an American former professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League (NFL) for 15 seasons. He played college football for the Washington Huskies, and earned unanimous All-American honors. He was selected by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 1996 NFL Draft, and also played for the Buffalo Bills, Atlanta Falcons, and Seattle Seahawks of the NFL. He was a four-time Pro Bowl selection, a two-time All-Pro, and a member of the Patriots' Super Bowl XXXVI championship team that beat his hometown team, the St. Louis Rams.
Robert "Rocky" Eugene Bernard, Jr. is a former American football defensive tackle who was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the fifth round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Texas A&M.
Mario Cashmere Manningham is a former American football wide receiver. He was selected by the New York Giants in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft. After receiving few opportunities in his rookie year, Manningham caught 18 touchdown passes the following three seasons, as well as three postseason touchdowns during the Giants' 2011–12 playoff run. Manningham won Super Bowl XLVI with the Giants over the New England Patriots, in which he caught a crucial 38-yard pass with under four minutes remaining to set up the Giants' game-winning drive.
Robert Michael Ninkovich is an American former professional football player who was an outside linebacker for eleven seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Purdue Boilermakers as a defensive end and was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He also played in the NFL for the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots, winning two Super Bowls with the latter. After eight seasons with the Patriots, Ninkovich announced his retirement from the NFL following the 2016 season.
Dashon Hugh Goldson is an American football coach and former safety in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Washington Huskies, and was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Redskins, and Atlanta Falcons. He is currently an assistant defensive backs coach for the San Francisco 49ers.
Patrick Christopher Chung is a Chinese Jamaican-American former football safety who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 12 seasons, primarily with the New England Patriots. He played college football at the University of Oregon and was selected in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Patriots, where he spent 11 non-consecutive seasons. In between his Patriots tenure, Chung was a member of the Philadelphia Eagles for one season. A three-time Super Bowl winner with New England, Chung was named to the franchise's All-2010s Team and All-Dynasty Team in 2020.
Jerod Mayo Sr. is an American football coach and former linebacker who is the head coach for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played with the Patriots for eight seasons. Mayo played college football at the University of Tennessee and was selected by the Patriots 10th overall in the 2008 NFL Draft. He was named Defensive Rookie of the Year, earned Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors in 2010 after leading the league in tackles, and received a second Pro Bowl selection in 2012. Mayo rejoined the Patriots as an assistant coach in 2019 and succeeded Bill Belichick as head coach in 2024.
Matthew Wilson Slater is an American former football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 16 seasons with the New England Patriots. A special teams player for most of his career, he is considered one of the greatest gunners of all time.
Qualin Dont'a Hightower is an American football coach and former linebacker who is the inside linebackers coach for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played in the NFL for nine seasons with the Patriots. Hightower played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide, receiving consensus All-American honors and winning two BCS National Championships. Selected in the first round of the 2012 NFL draft by the Patriots, he was named to two Pro Bowls and won three Super Bowl titles.
Kameron Darnel Chancellor, nicknamed "Bam Bam Kam", is an American former professional football safety who spent his entire nine-year career with the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Virginia Tech Hokies prior to being selected by the Seahawks in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. A four-time Pro Bowler, he was one of the key members of their Legion of Boom secondary. He also helped lead the Seahawks to victory in Super Bowl XLVIII. Chancellor retired following complications from a neck injury he suffered in 2017.
Vonnie B'VSean Miller is an American football linebacker for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). Miller played college football at Texas A&M, where he earned consensus All-American honors and the Butkus Award. He was selected by the Denver Broncos second overall in the 2011 NFL Draft.
Bruce Pernell Irvin Jr. is an American football linebacker for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the first round with the 15th overall pick of the 2012 NFL Draft. Irvin won Super Bowl XLVIII over the Denver Broncos, and also played in Super Bowl XLIX where he became the first player ever to be ejected from a Super Bowl. He played college football at West Virginia.
Bobby Joseph Wagner is an American football linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Utah State and was drafted in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Seahawks, who he played for until the end of the 2021 season. He rejoined the Seahawks in 2023 after playing for the Los Angeles Rams for the 2022 season.
Malik Barron Jackson is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle for 10 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers. Jackson was selected by the Denver Broncos in the fifth round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He has also played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Philadelphia Eagles, and Cleveland Browns.
Duron Harmon is an American football safety for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). Drafted by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft after playing college football at Rutgers, Harmon was nicknamed "the Closer" by fans and media for his ability to come up with late, game-sealing interceptions during his Patriots tenure. Harmon has also played for the Detroit Lions, Atlanta Falcons, and Las Vegas Raiders.
Malcolm Terel Butler is an American football cornerback who is a free agent. He previously played in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons. Butler played his first four seasons with the New England Patriots, who signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2014, and spent his next three seasons with the Tennessee Titans. After retiring ahead of the 2021 season, he returned to the Patriots the following year, but was released when he suffered a preseason injury.
Jamal Lee Adams is an American football safety who is a free agent. He played college football for the LSU Tigers, and was drafted sixth overall in the 2017 NFL Draft by the New York Jets. Adams quickly became an impactful starter for the Jets, making the Pro Bowl twice and being named an All-Pro. In 2021, Adams signed a four-year extension with the Seahawks valued at $72 million, with a $20 million signing bonus and $38 million guaranteed, making him the highest paid safety in the NFL at that time.
Vincent Valentine is a former American football defensive tackle. He was selected by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He played college football at Nebraska.
Jacob Hollister is an American football tight end who is a free agent. He played college football at Wyoming. He has been a member of the New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks, Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars, Las Vegas Raiders, and Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL).