The National Football League (NFL) has said that the decision to honor Charlie Kirk during the weekend’s game will rest with individual teams, the NY Post reported. The conservative activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA was killed on Wednesday while speaking to students at Utah Valley University at the age of 31.
On Thursday, the Green Bay Packers observed a moment of silence at Lambeau Field before their game against the Washington Commanders. The stadium announcer told fans that the NFL asked the audience to join them in a moment of silent reflection following the murder of Charlie Kirk. The announcer even condemned the violence on behalf of the NFL, reported CBS.
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NFL issues statement on Charlie Kirk tributes
The CBS report added that the league later issued a statement clarifying its position. They said that the moment of silence was observed due to the league’s decision, but for Sunday’s games, the decision to hold observance rested on the clubs.
The NFL mentioned that moments of silence often occur after significant national and international events, as well as tragedies that impact local communities. Previous tributes have taken place after school shootings, attacks on places of worship, and events like the Hamas attack on Israel in 2023. The league has also marked weather-related events, including hurricanes and wildfires.
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History of NFL tributes
The NFL has a legacy of recognizing tragic events and memorializing notable personalities. They have done tacit tributes with moments of silence for the victims of the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh in 2018, the LA wildfires that caused playoff relocations, and in honor of the plane crashes close to Washington D.C. and Philadelphia, according to The New York Post report.
They have also made tributes for sports figures like Kobe Bryant, who tragically was killed in a helicopter crash with his daughter Gianna in 2020, and, most recently, with a league-wide announcement of support for Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin, who suffered a cardiac episode on the field during a game in 2023, the NY Post report continued.
Tributes beyond the football field
The NFL was not the only organization to pay tribute to Kirk. On Wednesday, the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers held a moment of silence before their game. President Donald Trump has also said that Kirk will be posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
FAQs
Who was Charlie Kirk?
Charlie Kirk was a 31-year-old conservative political activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA.
How did Charlie Kirk die?
He was shot in the neck while speaking at Utah Valley University and later pronounced dead at a hospital.
Did the NFL officially honor him?
Yes, the league held a moment of silence before Thursday Night Football. Future tributes are left to the discretion of individual teams.
