The National Football League said on Friday it will leave decisions about tributes to Charlie Kirk to individual clubs after the league held a moment of silence before Thursday Night Football.
Kirk, a conservative political activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was shot while speaking on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on Wednesday. He was taken to a local hospital and was later pronounced dead. He was 31. Before kickoff at Lambeau Field for the Packers-Commanders game, Green Bay held a moment of silent reflection; a stadium announcer asked fans to join the observance and said, "The National Football League asks that you please join us in a moment of silent reflection following the murder of Charlie Kirk. The NFL condemns all violence in our communities. It will take all of us to stop hate. Thank you."
In a statement on Friday, the NFL said the league's decision to hold a moment on Thursday night was specific to that game and that clubs will determine whether to observe similar tributes for Sunday’s slate of games. "Last night’s moment was the league’s decision. It’s up to the clubs for this Sunday’s games," the statement said. The league noted that clubs have historically held a variety of in-stadium and on-air tributes following events that rise to a national level and often stage moments after tragedies that affect their local communities.
The NFL pointed to past instances when moments of silence or tributes were held, including after the 2018 Tree of Life synagogue attack, the October 2023 Hamas attacks in Israel, and weather-related disasters. The league has also observed moments related to high-profile deaths and tragedies, such as the deaths tied to the Los Angeles wildfires that affected scheduling, recent fatal plane crashes, and the deaths of Kobe Bryant and others.
Outside the NFL, Major League Baseball's New York Yankees held a moment of silence for Kirk before their Wednesday night game against the Detroit Tigers at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees also hosted former President Donald Trump at the ballpark Wednesday, an appearance that coincided with the 24th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.
The NFL's approach gives teams latitude to tailor responses to their fans and communities, so observers can expect variation in whether and how clubs acknowledge Kirk during Week 2. The league reiterated its condemnation of violence and emphasized clubs often respond to both national and local tragedies with moments of reflection and remembrance.