:Mel Branch
{{Short description|American football player (1937–1992)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Mel Branch
| image = Mel Branch 1960.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Branch {{circa}} 1960
| number = 87, 86
| position = Defensive end
| birth_date = {{birth date|1937|02|15}}
| birth_place = Leesville, Louisiana, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|1992|04|21|1937|02|15}}
| death_place = DeRidder, Louisiana, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lb = 230
| high_school = DeRidder
| college = LSU
| draftyear = 1960
| draftround = 10
| draftpick = 118
| afldraftyear = 1960
| afldraftround = Second selections
| afldraftpick =
| pastteams =
| highlights =
- AFL champion (1962)
- 2× First-team All-AFL (1960, 1962)
- Second-team All-AFL (1963)
- 3× AFL All-Star (1961–1963)
- AFL sacks co-leader (1960)
- National champion (1958)
| statleague = AFL
| statlabel1 = Sacks
| statvalue1 = 57
| statlabel2 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue2 = 3
| statlabel3 = Games played
| statvalue3 = 126
| statlabel4 = Games started
| statvalue4 = 103
| pfr = BranMe00
}}
Melvin Leroy Branch (February 15, 1937 – April 21, 1992) was an American football defensive end who played for the Dallas Texans / Kansas City Chiefs and the Miami Dolphins in the American Football League (AFL).
While playing college football for the LSU Tigers, he was a member of the "Chinese Bandits" defense for the 1958 national champion team, and a starter for the Texans in their victory over the Houston Oilers in the longest professional football game played up to that time, the 1962 AFL Championship Game.
See also
{{1958 LSU Tigers football navbox}}
{{49ers1960DraftPicks}}
{{1960 Dallas Texans}}
{{1962 Dallas Texans}}
{{1966 Miami Dolphins}}
{{AFL annual sacks leaders}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Branch, Mel}}
Category:American football defensive ends
Category:People from Leesville, Louisiana
Category:Players of American football from Louisiana
Category:LSU Tigers football players
Category:Dallas Texans (AFL) players
Category:Kansas City Chiefs players
Category:Miami Dolphins players
Category:American Football League All-Star players
Category:American Football League All-League players
Category:People from DeRidder, Louisiana
Category:American Football League players
{{defensive-lineman-1930s-stub}}