Several NFL teams hold moments of silence for Charlie Kirk after his assassination
League says Thursday's tribute was a league decision and will allow individual clubs to determine future in-stadium tributes
Several National Football League teams observed moments of silence on Sunday to honor Charlie Kirk after the conservative activist and media figure was fatally shot in Utah earlier this week.
The New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints and Dallas Cowboys halted pregame activity to remember Kirk, 31. The Green Bay Packers also held a moment of silence prior to their Thursday night game against the Washington Commanders; the NFL said that tribute was scheduled by the league for Thursday's kickoff.
The league released a statement saying it would allow clubs to decide whether to hold in-stadium tributes for games after Thursday. "Last night's moment was the league's decision. It's up to the clubs for this Sunday's games," the statement read. The NFL noted that moments of silence and other tributes have been held regularly in response to events that rise to a national level or affect local communities.
The statement cited past observances for victims of mass shootings and attacks, including the Tree of Life synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh in 2018, international incidents such as the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023, and weather-related tragedies. The league also referenced tributes to members of the football community, including a moment for Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin in 2023, and earlier acknowledgments for Kobe Bryant and other victims of the 2020 helicopter crash. The NFL said commemorations this year have included a performance of "Lift Every Voice and Sing" at league events and tributes related to a separate attack at an office building this summer and the Bourbon Street attack during the 2024 season.
Media outlets reported that the Jets, Dolphins, Titans, Saints and Cowboys observed the moments of silence, and that DailyMail contacted the Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers to ask whether they had held similar tributes. Team representatives and the league did not immediately provide additional comment beyond the published statement.
Kirk, a prominent voice in conservative political media and organizer, was described in coverage as a polarizing figure whose death prompted responses across political and media landscapes. The NFL's approach—centralizing a tribute for the kickoff game and then delegating decisions to individual clubs—mirrors past practice in which the league and teams have coordinated or independently arranged recognitions depending on the nature and timing of an event.
Observers noted that in-stadium tributes in the NFL have varied in timing and scope, sometimes occurring during the game immediately following an event, sometimes coordinated league-wide, and other times organized at the club level to reflect local impact. The league's statement reiterated that moments of silence and other tributes are part of a broader set of recognitions that also include honoring recently passed players and personnel.
As news organizations continue to report on reactions around the country, teams will determine whether to continue in-stadium acknowledgments at future games. The NFL's decision to devolve that choice to individual clubs leaves the timing and presence of further tributes to local discretion.