Several NFL teams, including the Jets, Titans, and Cardinals, held moments of silence honoring Charlie Kirk after his assassination, while five franchises — the Bengals, Lions, Colts, Vikings, and Ravens — chose not to.

The NFL found itself at the center of a new culture war storm on Sunday after a majority of home teams held moments of silence for slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk — but five franchises notably opted out, igniting fierce debate among fans and commentators.

Kirk, 31, founder of Turning Point USA and a prominent voice in conservative politics, was gunned down on September 10, 2025, while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.

His assassination, allegedly carried out by 22-year-old Tyler Robinson with a high-powered rifle, has dominated headlines and sparked tributes across the political spectrum.

For many of Kirk’s admirers, Sunday’s NFL games represented an opportunity for the league to acknowledge his influence and mourn the violence that cut his life short.

According to reports, the Jets, Cardinals, Dolphins, Saints, Steelers, Titans, Chiefs, and Cowboys all held moments of silence before kickoff in their respective stadiums.

The gestures were brief but powerful: at MetLife Stadium, the big screen displayed a photo of Kirk with his wife and two young children, prompting audible applause and chants of “USA!” from sections of the crowd.

In Nashville, the Titans projected Kirk’s portrait on the scoreboard above a caption reading “In Loving Memory, Charlie Kirk 1993–2025.”

The Cardinals, hosting the Panthers, also participated, with players bowing their heads near midfield. Arizona head coach Jonathan Gannon later told reporters,

“It’s not about politics. It’s about acknowledging that a young father was murdered in front of his community. Our guys wanted to show respect.”

But elsewhere in the league, silence about the silence was deafening. The Bengals, Lions, Colts, Vikings, and Ravens did not hold any pregame tributes, and social media immediately erupted with both outrage and defense of those decisions.

In Detroit, some fans claimed they were disappointed when no mention of Kirk was made, with one attendee writing on X, “We honored international tragedies and hurricanes but not a political murder at home? Feels intentional.”

In Baltimore, where the Ravens hosted the Raiders, a different atmosphere prevailed. Reporters on the ground noted there was no acknowledgment of Kirk whatsoever.

When asked, Ravens representatives pointed to the NFL’s statement from earlier in the week, which clarified that while the league held a tribute Thursday night at Lambeau Field before Packers-Commanders, “individual clubs may determine their own course of action” for Sunday games.

That guidance, which the league has used in the past following events ranging from school shootings to international terror attacks, placed the burden of decision squarely on each franchise.

“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 read. “Clubs also often hold moments following a tragic event that affects their community.”

The uneven response underscored how polarizing Kirk’s legacy remains. While his supporters hail him as a champion for free speech and conservative youth, critics argue his rhetoric fostered division.

That reality left NFL franchises in a difficult position: honoring a figure beloved by many but reviled by others.

Political commentators were quick to seize on the optics. Conservative pundit Ben Shapiro blasted the five teams on his podcast, calling their silence “cowardice” and claiming the NFL was “bowing to woke pressure.”

Meanwhile, MSNBC host Joy Reid offered a contrasting take, arguing that “Charlie Kirk wasn’t a universally unifying figure like the victims of 9/11 or the Tree of Life Synagogue. The league left it to the teams, and some chose not to wade into politics.”

Even players weighed in. Titans safety Kevin Byard told reporters, “I didn’t know a ton about Charlie Kirk, but I know he was a dad, and he was murdered. For me, that’s enough reason to bow my head.”

Conversely, one anonymous veteran player on the Vikings reportedly told The Athletic, “I came here to play football, not to endorse or condemn politics. I was relieved we didn’t do anything.”

Fans, too, were divided. Hashtags like #NFLTribute and #KirkSilence trended through Sunday evening, with heated debates flooding Instagram and X timelines.

Some argued that failure to honor Kirk was disrespectful, especially when the Yankees and other sports organizations had already staged tributes earlier in the week. Others said the NFL had no business canonizing a political figure, regardless of how tragic his death was.

The debate comes at a sensitive time for the league, which has long wrestled with balancing sports and politics.

From kneeling protests during the national anthem to public calls for social justice campaigns, the NFL has been accused by both sides of either politicizing the game or failing to take a moral stand. The Kirk tributes — and lack thereof — appear destined to reopen those wounds.

Meanwhile, the investigation into Tyler Robinson, Kirk’s alleged killer, continues. Robinson was arrested after a rapid 33-hour manhunt and is facing an aggravated murder charge.

Utah Governor Spencer Cox has condemned the assassination as an “attack on America itself,” while also warning about the role of toxic online communities in radicalizing young people.

For Kirk’s supporters, Sunday’s patchwork of tributes may have been bittersweet. As thousands of fans in some stadiums bowed their heads, others carried on with no mention of the slain activist.

The divide laid bare the reality of Kirk’s polarizing presence — even in death, he remained a figure capable of uniting and dividing America in equal measure.

The NFL still has two more games scheduled this week: Buccaneers-Texans and Chargers-Raiders on Monday night. Whether either team holds a tribute remains to be seen.

For now, the league appears content to let individual clubs decide, ensuring that the debate over how, and whether, to honor Charlie Kirk will rage on long after the final whistle.