Alan Branch

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.

Alan Branch
Branch with the New England Patriots in 2015
No. 78, 99, 97, 90
Position:Defensive tackle
Personal information
Born: (1984-12-29) December 29, 1984
Rio Rancho, New Mexico
Height:6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Weight:350 lb (159 kg)
Career information
High school:Cibola High School
(Albuquerque, New Mexico)
College:Michigan
NFL Draft:2007 / Round: 2 / Pick: 33
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2017
Total tackles:279
Sacks:10.5
Forced fumbles:5
Fumble recoveries:1
Pass deflections:14
Player stats at NFL.com

Early years

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.

High school awards
  • Selected to play in 2004 U.S. Army All-American Bowl
  • Gatorade Player of the Year in New Mexico
  • All-State as a junior and senior
  • On May 3, 2017, Branch was inducted to the Cibola High School Hall of Fame

College career

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:

  • 2006 ESPN.com All-American Team
  • 2006 All-Big Ten Conference First Team (coaches and media)

Professional career
Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand size 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

Arizona Cardinals

Branch was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals with the 33rd overall pick in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft. The Cardinals acquired the pick from the Oakland Raiders.[4] In the 2008 NFL season, the Cardinals reached Super Bowl XLIII, but lost 27-23 to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Seattle Seahawks
Branch in the 2012 preseason with the Seahawks.

The Seattle Seahawks signed Branch to a two-year contract on July 28, 2011.[5]

Buffalo Bills

Branch signed a one-year contract with the Buffalo Bills on April 2, 2013.[6][7]

On December 23, 2013, Branch signed a multi-year contract extension with the Bills.[8]

On August 24, 2014, one day after being arrested for a DUI, Branch was cut from the team.[9]

New England Patriots

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.[10]

On March 15, 2015, Branch re-signed with the Patriots on a two-year deal worth a maximum of $6.6 million.[11]

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.[12][13] Branch helped the Patriots win 14 games and earn the top seed for the AFC playoffs.[14]

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.[15] 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.[16][17]

On March 9, 2017, Branch signed a two-year, $12 million contract extension with the Patriots.[18] 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.[19]

NFL statistics
YearTeamGPCOMBTOTALASTSACKFFFRFR YDSINTIR YDSAVG IRLNGTDPD
2007ARI119810.0000000000
2008ARI46510.0000000000
2009ARI16181442.0000000002
2010ARI16352782.0200000001
2011SEA153421133.0000000002
2012SEA162916131.0010000002
2013BUF163921180.0000000001
2014NE813850.0000000001
2015NE163522131.0200000002
2016NE164926231.5100000003
2017NE12121200.0000000000
Career1462791809910.55100000015

[20]

Key

  • GP: games played
  • COMB: combined tackles
  • TOTAL: total tackles
  • AST: assisted tackles
  • SACK: sacks
  • FF: forced fumbles
  • FR: fumble recoveries
  • FR YDS: fumble return yards
  • INT: interceptions
  • IR YDS: interception return yards
  • AVG IR: average interception return
  • LNG: longest interception return
  • TD: interceptions returned for touchdown
  • PD: passes defensed
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References
  1. Yodice, James. "Cibola welcomes Alan Branch back home, inducts him into athletic hall of fame". Albuquerque Journal. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  2. "Alan Branch Career Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  3. "Michigan at Ohio State Box Score, November 18, 2006". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  4. "2007 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  5. Confirmed: Seahawks agree to terms with DT Alan Branch
  6. "DT Alan Branch signs with Buffalo". Archived from the original on April 6, 2013. Retrieved April 2, 2013.
  7. Hanzus, Dan (April 2, 2013). "Alan Branch signs one-year contract with Buffalo Bills". NFL.com. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
  8. "DL Alan Branch signs extension with Bills". Archived from the original on December 24, 2013. Retrieved December 24, 2013.
  9. Breech, John. "Bills cut DT Alan Branch, one day after DUI charge". CBSSports.com. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  10. "Super Bowl XLIX - Seattle Seahawks vs. New England Patriots - February 1st, 2015". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  11. Agent: Alan Branch back with Patriots
  12. Shook, Nick (November 21, 2016). "Patriots' Alan Branch facing four-game suspension". NFL.com.
  13. Shook, Nick (December 3, 2016). "Patriots' Alan Branch has suspension rescinded". NFL.com.
  14. "2016 New England Patriots Statistics & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  15. "Super Bowl LI - New England Patriots vs. Atlanta Falcons - February 5th, 2017". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  16. Wesseling, Chris. "New England Patriots win Super Bowl LI". NFL. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
  17. "Super Bowl LI - National Football League Game Summary" (PDF). National Football League. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 7, 2017. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
  18. Reiss, Mike (March 9, 2017). "Patriots check off important part of to-do list with Alan Branch deal". ESPN.com.
  19. Kyed, Doug (March 6, 2018). "Patriots Won't Pick Up Alan Branch's Contract Option, Freeing Up Cap Room". NESN.com.
  20. "Alan Branch Stats". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved December 30, 2014.
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