Packers’ pregame moment of silence for Charlie Kirk divides NFL fans

The Green Bay Packers held a moment of silence to honor Charlie Kirk before their game against the Washington Commanders at Lambeau Field, a decision that prompted sharply divided reactions from NFL fans.

The stadium announcer asked fans to observe the tribute in the moments before kickoff and said: "The NFL condemns all violence in our communities. It will take all of us to stop hate." The remembrance came after Kirk was killed in an attack earlier in the week.

Supporters praised the Packers for the tribute, with some fans expressing relief and gratitude on social media. One user on X wrote, "God bless the Packers," while another posted, "My Green Bay packers just had a moment of silence for Charlie Kirk I was praying they would do that."

Other posts criticized the decision. One commenter questioned honoring Kirk "based on what he stood for and what he capitalized on," while another described holding the remembrance on Sept. 11 as "outrageous." The timing referenced by some users echoed long-standing sensitivities around the anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks.

Charlie Kirk, founder of the conservative activist group Turning Point USA, was fatally shot earlier in the week, an event that drew widespread national attention and prompted responses from political figures and organizations. The Packers' on-field tribute was one of several public remembrances that followed his death.

The Packers did not immediately provide further comment beyond the stadium announcement. The NFL has previously issued statements condemning violence and calling for unity, and the league's presence in stadium announcements has often been used to address off-field incidents and tragedies.

The reaction at Lambeau and online underscores the polarized responses that public remembrances for political figures can provoke in a divided media environment. Fans and observers said their views were shaped by Kirk's political activity, the circumstances of his death and the choice of timing for a public tribute at a major sporting event.

The game against the Commanders proceeded as scheduled. Team and league officials have in the past balanced expressions of mourning with efforts to avoid endorsing specific political positions; the Packers' pregame moment became the latest episode in that ongoing debate about where sports, memory and politics intersect.

Further comment from the Packers, the NFL or Kirk's associates was not immediately available.