Deion Branch

Anthony Deion Branch Jr. (born July 18, 1979) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL).

He is the director of player development and alumni relations at the University of Louisville.

He was the first receiver to win the award since 1989 when Jerry Rice had his 11 catch game.

He was named Super Bowl MVP, the first wide receiver to do so since 1989.

The Patriots defeated the Philadelphia Eagles for Branch's second Super Bowl ring.

As a freshman in 1997, Branch caught 37 passes for 639 yards and five touchdowns, and also returned 14 kickoffs for a 23.6 yard average.

In 1998, Branch had 70 receptions for 1,012 yards and nine touchdowns, while also returning 15 punts for a 12.8 yard average and 17 kickoffs for a 19.6 yard average.

His performance in his sophomore season earned him second-team All-American honors.

Branch played two seasons for John L. Smith at the University of Louisville beginning in 2000.

As a junior, Branch started ten games and led the team with 71 receptions for 1,016 yards and nine touchdowns.

His 6.45 catches per game ranked sixth in the nation.

The Cardinals finished the 2000 season with a record of 9–3, won the Conference USA Football Championship and went to the 2000 Liberty Bowl where Branch had a Liberty Bowl record 10 catches for 170 yards and 1 touchdown reception in their 22–17 loss to Colorado State.

He was named an All-Conference USA first-team selection in addition to being voted the Cardinals' Most Valuable Player and Outstanding Offensive Performer.

As a senior in 2001, Branch again led the team in catches with 72, recording a conference-best 1,188 yards as well as nine touchdowns.

He also returned 10 punts for 112 yards, including a 61-yard touchdown return.

The Cardinals finished the 2001 season with a record of 11–2, won the Conference USA Football Championship again and went to the 2001 Liberty Bowl where Branch had a 34-yard touchdown reception in their 28–10 win against BYU.

He was again named a first-team All-Conference USA selection following the season.

He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft.

He played college football at Louisville.

Branch was drafted by the Patriots in the second round (65th overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft.

In his rookie season in 2002, Branch started 7 of 13 games played for the Patriots, missing the final three games of the regular season with a leg injury.

He finished the season with 43 catches for 489 yards and two touchdowns, ranking him third on the team behind Troy Brown and David Patten.

On special teams, Branch led the Patriots with 36 kickoff returns for 863 yards and added two punt returns for 58 yards.

In Week 4 against the San Diego Chargers, Branch caught 13 passes, the second-highest single-game total by a rookie in NFL history.

In 2003, Branch started 11 of 15 games played for the Patriots, missing only the team's Week 6 game against the Tennessee Titans with an injury.

He led the team with 57 catches for 803 yards, recording first downs on 40 of his receptions, 24 of which came on third down.

In the Patriots' victory in Super Bowl XXXVIII over the Carolina Panthers, Branch caught 10 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown.

His 17-yard catch on the final drive with seconds remaining set-up Adam Vinatieri's game-winning 41-yard field goal.

Branch returned in 2004 to start the Patriots' first two games of the season before suffering a leg injury in the first half of the team's Week 2 game against the Arizona Cardinals.

He would not return until Week 11, starting every remaining game and finishing the regular season with 35 receptions for 454 yards and four touchdowns.

Branch had a 60-yard touchdown catch in the Patriots' AFC Championship game win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, earning him NFL Offensive Player of Championship Sunday honors.

Two weeks later, in Super Bowl XXXIX, Branch tied a Super Bowl record with 11 catches for 133 yards.

Branch was named the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XXXIX on February 6, 2005, after tying former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice and former Cincinnati Bengals tight end Dan Ross for the Super Bowl reception record with 11 catches for 133 yards.

In 2005, Branch played in 16 games (15 starts) for the first time, setting career highs with 78 receptions for 998 yards and five touchdowns.

In the Patriots' Divisional playoff loss to the Denver Broncos, Branch had 8 catches for 153 yards, including a former career-long catch of 73 yards.

Following the 2005 season, Branch entered the final year of his five-year rookie contract signed in 2002, with his base salary scheduled to be $1.045 million in 2006.

Branch played for the Seattle Seahawks from 2006 to 2010 before a second stint with the Patriots for the next two seasons, which included an appearance in Super Bowl XLVI.

Branch was born in Albany, Georgia.

He attended Monroe Comprehensive High School in Albany, where he lettered in both football and track and field.

After graduating from high school, Branch attended Jones County Junior College in Ellisville, Mississippi, where he played football for two seasons and was also a teammate of Javon Walker.