Four NFL franchises did not observe on-field tributes to conservative activist Charlie Kirk before their games on Sunday, even as several other teams paused play to honor the 31-year-old who was fatally shot during an event in Utah this week.
The Detroit Lions, Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens and Indianapolis Colts did not publicly acknowledge Kirk prior to kickoff, while the New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints, Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Cowboys, Arizona Cardinals and others held moments of silence or displayed images of Kirk on stadium video boards. The league announced Friday that teams would decide individually whether to hold tributes after it had mandated a leaguewide observance during Thursday night’s kickoff game.
The Colts told reporters they had planned a previously scheduled moment of silence for Forrest Lucas, the founder of Lucas Oil and namesake of Lucas Oil Stadium, following his death last month; that observance took place Sunday. The Lions, Bengals and Ravens did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The NFL said in a statement that moments of silence and tributes have varied depending on the nature and location of an incident and that clubs often honor people within their own communities or the broader NFL family.
“The league’s decision (Thursday) was ours to coordinate,” an NFL spokesperson said in the statement circulated Friday. “It’s up to the clubs for this Sunday’s games. There have been a variety of moments of silence and tributes in-stadium and on-air in all games or a game immediately following events that rise to a national level.” The statement noted past league tributes, including observances after the deaths of Kobe Bryant and members of the NFL family, high-profile national tragedies and incidents affecting local communities.
Kirk, the founder of the conservative activist group Turning Point USA and a prominent pro-MAGA commentator, was shot in the neck Wednesday at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, where he was speaking. He died at a hospital later that day. The shooting prompted vigils across the country and plans by Turning Point USA for a public memorial Sept. 21 at State Farm Stadium in Arizona.
Police arrested 22-year-old Tyler James Robinson of Washington, Utah, on suspicion of aggravated murder and other felony offenses. Prosecutors were preparing formal charges that could be filed early next week, and Robinson is expected to make his first court appearance then. Law enforcement officials executed a search warrant at Robinson’s family home in Washington, Utah, and spoke to relatives as part of the investigation.
Authorities said investigators were still working to determine a motive. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox told reporters that relatives said Robinson “had become more political in recent years,” and that family members recalled a dinner-table conversation in which he referenced Kirk’s visit to Utah Valley University and said they discussed whether the activist was “spreading hate.” State records show Robinson is registered to vote but not affiliated with a political party.
Federal and local investigators disclosed details about items recovered from the scene and evidence connected to the suspected weapon. Ammunition linked to the killing was reportedly engraved with taunting, anti-fascist and meme-culture messages; one bullet casing contained the phrase, “Hey, fascist! Catch!” according to officials. Media reporting also cited screenshots and messages indicating that Robinson at times mocked the manhunt and the FBI’s investigation and shared gallows humor in group chats while authorities were searching for the suspect.
The shooting prompted an immediate nationwide response from conservative activists, campus groups and Republican politicians, as well as from some NFL teams and players. Several teams used pregame moments to honor Kirk and his family, and some clubs coupled those tributes with observances for other victims of violence. The Miami Dolphins, for example, held a moment of silence that also acknowledged the victims of the Sept. 11 terror attacks.
Turning Point USA said it will hold a memorial Sept. 21 at State Farm Stadium. Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, in a livestreamed message after his death said she planned to continue his campus tour and media projects and vowed that “the movement my husband built will not die.” Kirk’s casket arrived in his home state aboard Air Force Two and was accompanied by JD Vance, according to accounts from the days following the killing.
Investigators continue to review surveillance footage, digital communications and other evidence as part of an ongoing probe. Authorities have not released a conclusive motive and have not filed formal charges as of Sunday evening. The suspect remains in custody, and prosecutors said they expect to file charges in the coming days.
NFL clubs differed in their approaches to public remembrance on Sunday, illustrating the league’s decision to give teams discretion after coordinating a leaguewide observance earlier in the week. The variations in response highlight the challenges sports leagues face when national tragedies intersect with deep political divisions and ongoing criminal investigations.