He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines and was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round of the 2007 NFL draft.

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.

He earned the following accolades while at Michigan: Branch was selected by the Arizona Cardinals with the 33rd overall pick in the second round of the 2007 NFL draft.

[4] In the 2008 NFL season, the Cardinals reached Super Bowl XLIII, but lost 27–23 to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

[11] On February 1, 2015, Branch won his first Super Bowl, defeating his former team, the Seattle Seahawks, by a score of 28–24.

[14][15] Branch helped the Patriots win 14 games and earn the top seed for the AFC playoffs.