Jerry Jones explains Cowboys' decision to honor Charlie Kirk
Owner says the team displayed a videoboard tribute at AT&T Stadium as an expression against violence after the Utah shooting that killed the conservative influencer
The Dallas Cowboys displayed an image of Charlie Kirk on the videoboard at AT&T Stadium before their game against the New York Giants and owner Jerry Jones said the tribute reflected the organization’s stance against violence.
Jones, speaking to reporters after the game, said the team’s decision was rooted in a broader opposition to violent acts and in support of law enforcement. "We just all abhor violence. And it’s impacting us all. And, certainly, we all stand together on any front, relative to the threat of violence," Jones said, noting historical episodes of national violence in the 1960s.
The Cowboys were among several NFL teams that honored Kirk before kickoff on Sunday. The Tennessee Titans, New York Jets and New Orleans Saints featured pregame tributes ahead of 1 p.m. ET games, while the Arizona Cardinals and Kansas City Chiefs displayed remembrances in late-afternoon matchups. By contrast, the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings and Indianapolis Colts opted not to include similar tributes.
Kirk, a 31-year-old conservative commentator and influencer, was shot and killed while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah earlier in the week. The shooting prompted a 33-hour manhunt that ended with the arrest of Tyler Robinson on Friday in connection with the incident. Authorities have said the arrest followed an intensive investigation; criminal proceedings are pending.
Jones referenced the national impact of violent episodes while explaining the Cowboys’ choice to recognize Kirk’s death. "I was a young guy, but aware, in the ’60s when we had huge violence, lost President (John F.) Kennedy and his brother and many, many others, Martin Luther King," Jones said, adding that organizations and communities should support law enforcement and work to keep violence in check. The comments were relayed to reporters and reported by The Athletic.
The pregame tributes came as vigils and remembrances for Kirk were held across the country. Teams’ decisions to honor or not honor Kirk reflected varying approaches by NFL organizations to public expressions prompted by national events, with some franchises choosing visible tributes on stadium video boards and others remaining silent during game-day ceremonies.
Club officials did not provide uniform guidance to players or staff leaguewide; the choice of whether to include a tribute was left to individual teams. The Cowboys’ display appeared on the stadium videoboard before kickoff and was visible to fans in attendance and viewers at home.
The NFL and its teams have previously used pregame moments and stadium video boards to mark deaths, tragedies and moments of remembrance. In this instance, several franchises coordinated short on-screen messages before play began, while others chose not to participate.
As authorities continue their investigation and legal processes move forward, NFL teams said they would monitor developments and determine future acknowledgments in keeping with club policies and community standards.
