Deion Branch life and biography

Anthony Deion Branch, Jr. is an American football wide receiver for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Patriots in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Louisville.

Career Transactions

Deion Branch was acquired by the Patriots from the Seattle Seahawks on Oct. 12, 2010 for an undisclosed draft pick ... Originally drafted by the Patriots in the second round (65th overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft ... Traded by the Patriots to Seattle (09/11/06) for an undisclosed draft pick.

Career Highlights

* Branch was awarded the Pete Rozelle Trophy as the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XXXIX. His 11 receptions in the game tied the Super Bowl record, also achieved by Jerry Rice and Dan Ross.
* Branch has turned in his biggest performances on the greatest stage in sports, leading all receivers in Super Bowls XXXVIII and XXXIX. He recorded a combined 21 receptions in the two games and owns two of the top seven receiving performances in Super Bowl history. His career reception total in the Super Bowl ranks third alltime, trailing only Jerry Rice (33) and Andre Reed (27).
* In 2005, Branch led the Patriots with career highs in three categories: receptions (78), receiving (998) and receiving touchdowns (5).
* Branch's 78 receptions in 2005 were the most by a Patriots player since 2002, when Troy Brown grabbed 97 passes.
* In the Patriots' 2005 divisional playoff game at Denver, Branch set a team playoff record with 153 receiving yards on eight catches. Branch also grabbed a 73-yard completion in the game, establishing the longest reception in Patriots playoff history.
* Branch was the NFL's leading receiver in the 2004 playoffs, pacing the league in receptions (16) and receiving yards (264). In addition to being named Super Bowl XXXIX MVP, he was selected as the NFL's Offensive Player of the Week following the AFC Championship Game (1/23/05), when he led all receivers with 116 yards, including a game-breaking 60-yard touchdown grab.
* Branch finished third on the team in the 2004 regular season with 35 receptions and 454 receiving yards despite playing in just nine regular-season games.
* Branch led the Patriots in 2003 with 57 receptions and 803 receiving yards, with both figures establishing career highs.
* Branch was the leading receiver in Super Bowl XXXVIII, grabbing 10 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown as the Patriots defeated the Carolina Panthers. Branch's 143 yards set a Patriots postseason record and established a career high.
* Branch gained a first down on 70.2 percent of his catches in 2003 (40 first downs on 57 receptions). He was a particular threat on third down, finishing sixth in the AFC in third-down receiving (24 rec, 362 yds, 2 touchdowns).
* During his rookie season in 2002, Branch finished second among AFC rookies with 43 receptions and third with 489 yards receiving despite missing the fi nal three games due to injury.
* Branch earned Rookie of the Month honors for September, 2002 after recording 28 receptions for 309 yards and two touchdowns.
* Branch established his career high for receptions with 13 catches against the San Diego Chargers (09/29/02). It tied the second highest single-game reception total by a rookie wide receiver in NFL history. Wide receiver Don Looney established the mark of 14 catches on Dec. 1, 1940. It also tied the second-highest reception total by a Patriot, equaling the mark set by Terry Glenn on Oct. 3, 1999.
* Branch also led all AFC rookies and finished sixth among all AFC kickoff return men with a 24.0-yard average in 2002.

2010 (5/3 - New England)
* Recorded seven receptions for 71 yards against Pittsburgh (11/14).
* Caught two passes for 21 yards against the Browns (11/7).
* Made one 21-yard catch against the Vikings in his second Patriots start of 2010 (10/31).
* Made four catches for 39 yards, including a 17-yard pass from Brady in the fourth quarter against San Diego (10/24).
* In his first game back with the Patriots after spending four plus seasons with the Seahawks, Branch had nine receptions for 98 yards and one touchdown - a five-yard throw from Brady in the fourth quarter (10/17). The nine receptions against the Ravens were the second highest single-game total of his career, dating back to his career-high 13-catch performance at San Diego as a rookie (11/29/02).

2010 (4/3 - Seattle)
* Started in three of four games for Seattle and caught 13 passes for 112 yards and one touchdown.
* Was traded from Seattle to the Patriots on Oct. 12.

2009 (14/5 - Seattle)
* Played in 14 games with five starts for Seattle.
* Finished the season with 45 receptions for 437 yards and two touchdowns.

2008 (8/8 - Seattle)
* Was limited to eight games due to injury.
* Started all eight games that he played.
* Finished with 30 receptions for 412 yards and four touchdowns.
* Caught two touchdown passes in his first game against his old team vs. New England (12/7).

2007 (11/11, 1/0 - Seattle)
* Started 11 games, missing five games due to injury.
* Finished the season with 49 receptions for 661 yards and four touchdowns.
* Had two 100-yard games with seven receptions for 122 yards at Arizona (9/16) and seven receptions for 130 yards at San Francisco (9/30).
* Was inactive for the postseason game vs. Washington (1/5) and played but did not start in the postseason game at Green Bay (1/12).
* Suffered a knee injury in the game against the Packers.

2006 (14/13, 2/2 - Seattle)
* Was traded from the Patriots to Seattle on Sept. 11 following the first regular-season game of the year.
* After sitting out the second week with Seattle, went on to start in 13 of 14 games.
* Finished the season with 53 receptions for 725 yards and four touchdowns.
* Also started two postseason games and with eight catches for 189 yards.
* Caught seven passes for 113 yards and a 38-yard touchdown at San Francisco (11/19).

2005 (16/15/0/0):
Led the team with a career-high 78 receptions and 998 receiving yards and five touchdown receptions ... Has recorded at least one reception in each of the last 47 games in which he has appeared, including the playoffs ... Including the playoffs, has eclipsed the 100-yard receiving mark six times with one coming in 2005.

2004 (9/9, 3/3):
Started nine regular-season games and all three playoff contests ...Tallied a career-high four touchdown receptions ... Finished third on the team with 35 receptions and 454 receiving yards ... Led all NFL receivers in the playoffs with 16 receptions for 264 yards ... Exceeded the 100-yard receiving mark against the Chiefs (11/22) ... Named NFL Offensive Player of Championship Sunday following the AFC Championship victory (1/23/05) ...Named Super Bowl MVP after tying a Super Bowl record with 11 receptions (2/6/05). Indianapolis (9/9): Started at wide receiver and tied for the team lead with seven receptions and 86 receiving yards in the Patriots' 27-24 victory over the Colts ... Hauled in a 21-yard reception from Brady in the first quarter ... Snared the Patriots' first touchdown of the season on a 16-yard pass play from Tom Brady in the second quarter. at Arizona (9/19): Started at wide receiver and made one reception for seven yards in just one half of action ... Extended the Patriots' first touchdown drive with a 7-yard grab on third-and-seven in the first quarter ... Pounced on a Patrick Pass fumble in the first quarter which allowed the Patriots to maintain possession and score the opening touchdown of the game two plays later. at Buffalo (10/3): Inactive. Miami (10/10): Inactive. Seattle (10/17): Inactive. N.Y. Jets (10/24): Inactive. at Pittsburgh (10/31): Inactive. at St. Louis (11/7): Inactive. Buffalo (11/14): Inactive. at Kansas City (11/22): Returned to action and led the team with six receptions and 106 receiving yards and a touchdown in the Patriots' 27-19 Monday Night victory over the Chiefs ... Extended the Patriots' initial scoring drive with a diving 17-yard catch on third-and-15 in the first quarter ... Snared a 26-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady on a nice catch-and-run to give the Patriots a 24-13 lead with 4:54 remaining in the third quarter ... Grabbed a 22-yard reception on third-and-10 in the fourth quarter. Baltimore (11/28): Led the team with 51 receiving yards on four catches in the Patriots' 24-3 victory over the Ravens ... Extended the Patriots' first touchdown drive of the afternoon with a 15-yard catch on third-and-six in the third quarter. at Cleveland (12/5): Caught one pass for 13 yards in the Patriots' 42-15 victory over the Browns ... Extended the Patriots' second touchdown drive by snaring a 13-yard reception on third-and-nine in the second quarter. Cincinnati (12/12): Hauled in three receptions for 44 yards in the Patriots' AFC East clinching 35-28 victory over the Bengals ... Grabbed a 23-yard reception from Tom Brady on the Patriots' first play from scrimmage. at Miami (12/20): Caught three passes for a team-leading 44 receiving yards ... Grabbed a 23-yard reception from Tom Brady in the third quarter ... Extended the Patriots' final touchdown drive with an 11-yard grab on third-and-three in the fourth quarter. at N.Y. Jets (12/26): Lead the team with seven receptions and 82 receiving yards with a touchdown in the Patriots' 23-7 victory over the Jets ... Extended the Patriots' first touchdown drive of the afternoon with an 11-yard grab on third-and-seven in the second quarter ... Hauled in a 10-yard reception on third-and-nine in the third quarter ... Got open in the corner of the end zone and snared a 6-yard touchdown toss from Tom Brady to give the Patriots a 23-0 lead in the fourth quarter. San Francisco (1/2): Collected three receptions for 22 yards and a touchdown in the Patriots' 21-7 victory over the 49ers ... Gave the Patriots a 14-7 lead with an 8-yard touchdown grab from Tom Brady in the third quarter. Indianapolis (1/16): Recorded 1 catch for 15 yards and carried the ball once for 4 yards. Pittsburgh (1/23): Named NFL Offensive Player of Championship Sunday after recording a team-high 116 receiving yards on four receptions and a touchdown in the Patriots' 41-27 AFC Championship victory over the Steelers ... Carried the ball twice for 37 yards and a touchdown ... Scampered for a 14-yard gain on a reverse on the Patriots first play from scrimmage ... Got open down the middle of the field and hauled in a 60- yard touchdown bomb from Tom Brady to give the Patriots a 10-0 lead with 6:49 remaining in the first quarter ... Set up the Patriots second touchdown of the evening with a 45-yard reception down the middle of the field in the second quarter ... Sealed the trip to the Super Bowl with a 23-yard touchdown run off of a reverse in the fourth quarter. Philadelphia (2/6): Named Super Bowl MVP after tying a Super Bowl record with 11 receptions in the Patriots' 24-21 victory over the Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX ... Registered a game-high 133 receiving yards ... Extended the Patriots' first scoring drive with a 7-yard grab on third-and-three late in the second quarter ... Extended the Patriots' second touchdown drive with a pair of third-down receptions in the third quarter ... Snared a 27-yard catch on third-and-six and then a 15- yard grab on third-and-10 during the drive ... Grabbed four receptions for 71 yards during the Patriots' scoring drive to open the third quarter.

Junior College:
Earned second-team All-America honors at Jones County (Ellisville, Miss.) College following the 1998 season … Caught 69 passes for 1,012 yards (14.7 avg.) and nine scores and helped JCC to a 12-0 mark and a victory in the Golden Isles Bowl ... Returned 15 punts for 12.8 yard average and 17 kickoffs for 19.6 yard average … Grabbed 37 passes for 639 yards (17.7 avg.) and five touchdowns as a freshman ... Returned 14 kickoffs for a 23.6 yard average in 1997.

Extra
* On the day of Super Bowl XXXIX, Deion called a dozen of his former football coaches to thank them for the support that they gave him throughout his high school, junior college and college careers. Hours after talking to his coaches, he tied the Super Bowl record with 11 receptions and was named MVP of the game.

Personal
* Born Anthony on July 18, 1979.
* Lettered in football and track at Monroe (Albany, Ga.) High.
* Participated in indoor track at Louisville in 2001.
* Competed in the 60 meter dash (7.1).
* Majored in communications.
* Married to Shola with twin boys, Deiondre and Deiontey and daughter, D'Ahni.

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