Bengals Fan Vows Boycott After Team Declines Moment of Silence for Charlie Kirk

A Cincinnati Bengals season-ticket holder said he will boycott the team after the club declined to hold a moment of silence for Charlie Kirk at its home opener on Sept. 14, the fan wrote in a letter published in the Cincinnati Enquirer.

In the letter, Brian Frank called the team ownership "self-absorbed" and accused the Brown family of "worshipping money and power" instead of recognizing "the nationwide hurt, sadness and trauma that so many Christians like myself felt." He wrote that he turned off the television and did not watch the Bengals' 31-27 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars when the club did not observe the tribute.

The decision by the Bengals to forgo a moment of silence aligns with several other NFL clubs that did not hold a tribute on Sunday; the Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings and Baltimore Ravens also opted not to observe a silence. By contrast, teams including the Green Bay Packers, New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints, Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans and Arizona Cardinals held moments of silence following Kirk's death.

The NFL said the Packers were instructed to hold a moment of silence during Thursday night's game and that other clubs were given the option of observing a tribute during their Sunday games. "Last night's moment was the league's decision. It's up to the clubs for this Sunday's games," the league said in a statement provided to Pro Football Talk. The NFL's statement cited a history of in-stadium and on-air tributes for events the league said "rise to a national level," and noted that clubs often hold moments following tragedies that affect their local communities.

The Bengals are owned by Mike Brown, the son of the team's founder, Paul Brown. Brown, a former Dartmouth quarterback who has served as the club's principal owner since 1991, did not publicly comment after the letter was published. The Daily Mail reported it reached out to Bengals spokespeople for a response.

Charlie Kirk, a conservative commentator and podcaster, was shot and killed on Sept. 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University. Authorities arrested 22-year-old Tyler Robinson on Friday after a 33-hour manhunt. According to a probable cause affidavit and statements from Utah officials, Robinson faces charges of aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, and obstruction of justice.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said family members reported that Robinson had previously made statements expressing dislike for Kirk and described him as "full of hate and spreading hate." Robinson's father told investigators he turned his son in to law enforcement following the incident, authorities said.

The killings and subsequent choices by individual teams about public tributes prompted a range of reactions from fans and commentators. Some NFL clubs and broadcasters included memorials or moments of silence; others cited internal policies or judgment calls about which events to recognize at stadiums.

Frank's letter highlighted the sensitivity among some fans about how teams respond to national news events, and his vow to boycott the Bengals adds to public debate over the role of sports franchises in acknowledging deaths that generate national attention. The Bengals' home game and the club's decision not to hold a moment of silence drew attention amid a larger conversation across the league about consistency and discretion in observing tributes.

Law enforcement continues to pursue the case against the accused shooter. Officials have not released a motive beyond the reported statements by family members, and the investigation remains active as prosecutors weigh charges and evidence.