Several NFL Teams Decline to Honor Charlie Kirk with Moment of Silence

At least five NFL franchises opted out of league-encouraged tributes for Charlie Kirk, who was fatally shot during a Utah campus event. While teams like the Jets, Cardinals, Saints, Steelers, Titans, Chiefs, and Cowboys held moments of silence—some displaying images of Kirk and his wife—others, including the Bengals, Lions, Vikings, and Ravens, chose not to participate, citing a desire to keep politics out of football. The NFL said decisions were left to clubs after an initial league-directed pause at Lambeau Field. Kirk, 31, was a polarizing far-right figure whose past remarks drew widespread condemnation. Police arrested 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, who faces an aggravated murder charge. The split response underscores the NFL’s ongoing balancing act between acknowledging nationally significant events and respecting divergent fan and team perspectives amid a highly charged political climate.

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Source: BET