The National Football League (NFL) and several of its teams recently honored the memory of the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was tragically killed during a speaking event at Utah Valley University. However, not all teams chose to participate in the tribute. The Bengals, Lions, Colts, Vikings, and Ravens decided not to partake in the homage, according to multiple reports.
Charlie Kirk, who was only 31 at the time of his death, was commemorated with moments of silence by several teams before their Sunday games. The Jets, Cardinals, Dolphins, Saints, Steelers, Titans, Chiefs, and Cowboys all took a moment to remember Kirk before the commencement 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. The league later released a statement indicating that it would be up to individual teams to 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 long-standing tradition of acknowledging national and international tragedies. This includes 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. 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.