49ers Star Bryce Huff Defends Colts LB Zaire Franklin — Says “JuJu’s Been Reckless for Years and Nobody Said a Word”

San Francisco, CA – October 16, 2025

The NFL can’t seem to shake the aftershock of the Brian Branch–JuJu Smith-Schuster altercation — and now, a voice from San Francisco has reignited the fire. 49ers edge rusher

Bryce Huff has stepped forward to defend Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin, who faced backlash for saying, “JuJu needed his ass whooped… Brian Branch doing the work of the Lord.” To Huff, the league’s outrage misses a bigger truth.

“Maybe he’s not wrong,” Huff told reporters after Wednesday’s practice. “People act surprised, but go watch the tape. JuJu’s been clowning defenders for years, and the refs just let it slide.”

His comments — calm, unapologetic, and brutally honest — split the NFL community in half, challenging the idea that Franklin’s words were mere “trash talk.”

#Colts LB Zaire Franklin on the scuffle between
#Lions S Brian Branch and #Chiefs WR JuJu Smith-Schuster:

“JuJu needed his ass whooped. … He been needing his ass whooped for a minute. Brian Branch (is) doing the work of the Lord.”
@club520podcast —> https://t.co/vHLrUUtQCj pic.twitter.com/GPZ1r8kuly — James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) October 15, 2025

Huff didn’t defend violence. What he defended was context — years of frustration from defenders watching JuJu play on the edge. In 2017, he blindsided Vontaze Burfict and stood over him. In 2021, he tangled with C.J. Gardner-Johnson after a whistle. And in 2023, he delivered a late shove on a Bills player that went unflagged.

“There’s a difference between being physical and being reckless,” Huff said. “He’s been reckless — and nobody says a word.”

To Huff, Franklin’s viral line wasn’t an endorsement of brutality but “a frustrated truth wrapped in sarcasm.”

“He didn’t mean beat the guy up,” Huff clarified. “He meant someone finally gave back what defenders have been taking for years — disrespect. It was a joke, but it came from a real place.”
For many in the defensive fraternity, that “real place” hit home.

While quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts condemned Franklin for “glorifying violence,” Huff took the opposite stance — seeing hypocrisy in how the league reacts.

“You fine us for roughing the passer, but let taunting and cheap shots slide when it’s a star receiver,” he said. “That’s not player safety — that’s selective protection.”

we stand with brian branch
pic.twitter.com/fIjUC0zgcj — neil. (@chilldude74) October 13, 2025

Across social media, Huff’s words blew up instantly. Chiefs fans called him “tone-deaf.” But defensive players — past and present — applauded his honesty. A retired linebacker wrote on X:

“Bryce Huff just said what every defensive player’s been thinking for years. The league protects entertainers, not competitors.” The comment racked up thousands of retweets overnight.

According to insiders, the NFL is “reviewing” Huff’s remarks alongside Franklin’s original post. No punishment is expected, but the discussion has reopened long-standing tensions between offense-friendly officiating and the league’s image of fairness.

“If this were any other receiver,” one scout told The Athletic, “nobody would care. But it’s JuJu — and JuJu’s always been polarizing.”

Huff didn’t flinch when asked if he regretted his defense of Franklin. He simply smiled.

“You can call it dirty or call it honest,” he said. “But at least now people are talking about what’s real. Respect in football isn’t something you get — it’s something you earn, one hit at a time.”

Stay tuned to ESPN!

Chiefs Star RB Isiah Pacheco Reportedly Rejects LGBT Armbands and Ignites NFL-Wide Debate

Kansas City, MO – October 2, 2025

The Kansas City Chiefs find themselves in the middle of the NFL’s newest cultural storm, with running back Isiah Pacheco reportedly linked to the league’s LGBT armband debate. Viral posts spreading across social media suggest the fiery back has voiced opposition to the initiative, sparking heated discussions among fans and analysts alike.

The controversy emerged after a screenshot attributed to Pacheco circulated online. The message read: “I run with heart for Kansas City and the Chiefs Kingdom, not for political agendas. Football is about competition, not being forced into statements with armbands.”

As with other recent controversies, neither Pacheco nor the Chiefs organization have confirmed the authenticity of the quote.

Still, the impact has been immediate. Supporters argue that Pacheco should not be pressured into symbolic actions unrelated to the sport, praising him for standing firm on keeping football about football. Critics, however, insist that players of his stature have a duty to promote inclusivity and visibility, especially in a league that prides itself on diversity.

The Chiefs, one of the NFL’s most scrutinized franchises, are now facing questions that extend well beyond the gridiron. With Pacheco’s role as both a Super Bowl champion and a fan favorite, the controversy hits harder in Kansas City, where the team’s culture and image are constantly in the national spotlight.

On social media, the reaction is fiercely divided. Hashtags supporting Pacheco trend alongside criticism that accuses him of ignoring marginalized voices. The league’s “Football Is For Everyone” campaign, once celebrated as a progressive step, has once again become a lightning rod for debate.

As one AFC executive noted, “Whether the statement was real or not, attaching Isiah Pacheco’s name to this issue guarantees that it will stay in headlines. The Chiefs aren’t just managing football games now — they’re managing a cultural narrative.”

What began as a league-wide gesture of visibility has morphed into one of the season’s most polarizing storylines, with Kansas City’s rising star caught right in the middle.