The Cleveland Browns held a pregame tribute on Sunday for Charlie Kirk, the right-wing ‘political’ activist who was fatally shot earlier this month. During a moment of silence, the stadium displayed an image of Kirk with his family – an unexpected gesture that coincided with his funeral service in Arizona.
The decision to honor a partisan figure at an NFL game has sparked some quiet discomfort, especially given the league’s typical reluctance to engage in overt political messaging.
NFL teams split on response as league leaves tributes optional
Kirk, 31, was killed during a campus debate event at Utah Valley University on September 10. Though not an athlete or associated with the NFL, his death prompted responses from several teams.
Alongside the Browns, franchises like the Saints, Steelers, Cowboys, and Cardinals also paused for brief memorials. Others, including the Lions, Colts, and Ravens, made no public acknowledgment.
The Houston Texans chose a broader statement, holding a moment of silence for “all victims of violence and natural disasters” without naming Kirk directly. “There have been a number of recent tragedies,” the team said in a statement, “so we did not think it was appropriate to single any of them out.”
The NFL itself initially held a moment of silence before the September 11 game between the Packers and Commanders, but quickly distanced itself from further involvement, allowing individual teams to decide whether to participate in any future tributes.
While Kirk was a prominent voice in conservative media, his alignment with far-right politics and controversial stances on issues like immigration, LGBTQ+ rights, and education policy have made him a polarizing figure. For some fans and observers, honoring him during a major sporting event felt more like a political statement than a unifying gesture.
Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, has vowed to continue his campus tour and podcast. “The movement my husband built will not die,” she said in a livestream following his death.
Meanwhile, Tyler James Robinson, 22, remains in custody on suspicion of aggravated murder. The investigation into the shooting is ongoing.
As tributes continue, so do questions about whether political figures – regardless of affiliation – should be honored in settings that are meant to bring people together, not divide them.
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