The National Football League (NFL) and its teams paid tribute to the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated at a speaking event at Utah Valley University last Wednesday. However, not all teams participated in the tribute, with the Bengals, Lions, Colts, Vikings, and Ravens opting out, as reported by various sources.
Kirk, 31, was remembered with moments of silence by several teams before their games on Sunday. The Jets, Cardinals, Dolphins, Saints, Steelers, Titans, Chiefs, and Cowboys all paused to honor Kirk before the start of their respective matches.
The NFL had previously held a moment of silence for Kirk before the Packers’ game against the Commanders at Lambeau Field on Thursday. The league later issued a statement indicating that individual teams would decide whether to continue the tribute in future games.
The statement read, “Last night’s moment was the league’s decision. It’s up to the clubs for this Sunday’s games. There have been a variety of moments of silence and tributes in-stadium and on-air in all games or a game immediately following events that rise to a national level. Clubs also often hold moments following a tragic event that affects their community.”
The NFL has a history of acknowledging national and international tragedies, including school shootings, attacks on places of worship like the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh in 2018, international incidents such as the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023, and weather-related incidents such as major hurricanes and fires.
In addition to the NFL, the Yankees also held a moment of silence for Kirk before their game on Thursday. During the Jets game, images of Kirk, his wife, and their children were displayed on the videoboard.
The suspect in Kirk’s assassination, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, has been identified and is expected to be charged with aggravated murder. Two more NFL games are scheduled for this week, with the Buccaneers visiting the Texans and the Chargers playing the Raiders in Las Vegas on Monday.