5 NFL Teams Are Under Fire For Skipping Charlie Kirk Tribute

Several NFL teams are under fire after choosing not to participate in a league-wide moment of silence honoring conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was tragically shot and killed last week during a public appearance at Utah Valley University. Kirk was the outspoken co-founder of Turning Point USA, a prominent conservative organization known for engaging college students in political discourse. At the time of his death, Kirk was participating in a "Prove Me Wrong" event, a forum-style debate in which he invited students to challenge his views on hot-button political and cultural issues.

The fatal shooting sent shockwaves through the political world and prompted an outpouring of grief from supporters across the country. As many teams across the NFL paused to honor Kirk with a moment of silence before Sunday's games, a select few did not, and the backlash has been swift.

The teams that declined to honor Charlie Kirk with a pre-game moment of silence include:

• Detroit Lions
• Indianapolis Colts
• Cincinnati Bengals
• Baltimore Ravens
• Minnesota Vikings

Each of these franchises reportedly made the decision internally not to participate, a move that fans are calling both disrespectful and hypocritical, especially given the fact that all five teams seemingly honored George Floyd in 2020 following his death in Minneapolis, according to Jon Root.

On X (formerly Twitter), fans wasted no time expressing their outrage. "Time for me to find a new team," one user wrote. "Was a Detroit Lions fan. Was going to be a Cincinnati fan. Who should I root for now?"

"I will say I am very disappointed in my home team @Lions for not honoring the loss of life of a human being. Very, very disappointed," another said as a third chimed in, "Disgusting." Others extended their criticism to the broader cities these teams represent. "And EVERY one of those states should be ashamed of what they have allowed to become of their cities," someone else wrote.

Beyond expressing disappointment, fans are taking action, organizing call-in campaigns to voice their frustration directly to team leadership. "If you're a fan of one of these teams, I'm not going to be ignorant and say you have to find a new team," one user posted. "But you do need to call them and let them know they disappointed you… Call them & call them & call them until the lines are busy."

On September 10, 2025, conservative activist and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was fatally shot while speaking at a public debate on the Utah Valley University campus. The shooting occurred in the middle of a live exchange during one of Kirk's signature "Prove Me Wrong" events, where he frequently invited students to challenge his political views in real time.

Kirk was responding to a question about mass shootings in the U.S. when the gunman opened fire. His final words were in response to a student who asked, "Do you know how many mass shooters there have been in America over the last 10 years?" Kirk replied, "Counting or not counting gang violence?" before being struck by gunfire.

He was rushed to Timpanogos Regional Hospital in critical condition, but tragically pronounced dead later that afternoon at the age of 31.

The assassination immediately sent shockwaves through the political and media landscape, drawing widespread condemnation of political violence from both sides of the aisle. President Donald Trump called for prayers on Truth Social just hours after the shooting and later announced that Kirk would receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously.

Several living former U.S. presidents, including Barack Obama and Joe Biden, also issued public statements mourning Kirk's death. International leaders added their voices to the growing chorus, denouncing the violence and urging unity in the face of escalating political tensions.

The suspect, identified as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, was arrested two days later in Washington, Utah. Authorities say the investigation remains ongoing, with FBI Special Agent Robert Bohls confirming the case is still in its early stages and asking for the public's assistance in gathering information.

As of now, the NFL has not issued a direct statement about the five teams that opted out of the moment of silence.