In a move that’s already fueling outrage, five NFL home teams quietly skipped paying tribute to Charlie Kirk, despite the wave of memorials across stadiums this Sunday. As most franchises held moments of silence, played tributes, or showed his image on big screens, these five were notably silent—igniting accusations that politics and image management are now as important as tradition.
Charlie Kirk, 31, a prominent conservative activist, was assassinated on Sept. 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University. The league held a moment of silence on Thursday night for the Packers-Commanders game, but left the decision to honor him on Sunday up to each team. Some jumped at the opportunity; others apparently passed.
Confirmed non-tributes came from the Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts, Minnesota Vikings, and Baltimore Ravens. Meanwhile, teams like the Jets, Cowboys, Dolphins, Saints, Steelers, Chiefs, and Cardinals honored Kirk before their games with moments of silence, tributes, and images. nypost.com+2Heavy Sports+2
Fans flooded social media—some demanding explanations, others calling it a betrayal. One X user wrote: “How do you respect every other tragedy but ignore this one?” Another: “Which teams don’t want unity, or do they just think it’s safer to stay silent?”
None of the silent teams have issued a full explanation yet. The NFL statement said tributes were optional for Sunday games, in keeping with past precedents for how clubs respond to national tragedies. Heavy Sports+1 But in a highly visible moment like this—when many are watching for meaning—silence is being interpreted not as neutrality but as choice.
The issue has become more than just optics. It feels like lenses are being held up to league values, fans’ expectations, and what it means to honor someone over politics or personal beliefs. Some wonder: are these teams refusing out of discomfort, fear of backlash, or genuine policy?
As reactions intensify and pressure mounts, one thing is certain: the NFL will face scrutiny for how its teams choose to respond—or not respond—to tragedies that many believe transcend political divides.
👉 More details below in the comments.
Leave a Reply