On Sunday, the 14th of September, several NFL stadiums opened their games with a moment of silence for Charlie Kirk. The right-wing conservative activist was shot while speaking at Utah Valley University on the 10th of September, 2025. However, not every stadium held a Charlie Kirk memorial, such as the Lions, Bengals, Colts, Vikings, Steelers, and Ravens. While a league-wide tribute was staged ahead of the Packers-Commanders game that Thursday, it was up to individual clubs to decide whether they would partake in the tribute that Sunday.
Charlie Kirk Memorials at NFL Stadiums
Following national tragedies, the NFL typically follows a standard pattern. They first have a league-wide moment of remembrance and then leave it up to individual franchises to decide what they want to do after that. The teams usually tailor their tributes to the communities around them, based on the sentiments of the local fans. On Sunday, the 14th, the Jets, Dolphins, Cardinals, Saints, Chiefs, Titans, and Cowboys all held tributes before kickoff. For example, the Jets displayed photos of Charlie Kirk and his family on MetLife Stadium’s videoboard. Even the New York Yankees from Major League Baseball held a moment of silence before their game on Thursday.
According to a statement released by the league, there have been moments where tragic events have risen to a national level, which have been followed by on-air and in-stadium tributes at all games. Individual clubs also often hold tributes after a tragic incident that has directly affected their community. The league noted that, “There have been moments following school shootings or an attack on a house of worship such as the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh in 2018. There also have been moments following major international incidents such as Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023 and weather-related incidents such as major hurricanes and fires.”
One of the issues is that memorials held inside sports venues can lead to trouble, especially when the individual being memorialized is polarizing. Not everyone present will necessarily agree with that individual’s ideals and political views, which can be divisive. While some of the teams may have come to the conclusion that a tribute would largely be embraced, others may have decided that it was ultimately too risky and the least divisive choice they could make for their particular community.
The Shooting Has Raised Safety Concerns
Charlie Kirk was killed during an appearance at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Since then, Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old local, has been charged with aggravated murder and several other offences. The incident has led the UVU to commission an independent security review of what went wrong at the rally in order to improve safety protocols on the campus. Many other institutions have also begun revisiting their security guidance regarding large public events. For example, college police chiefs in South Carolina have urged tougher penalties for those who make fake death threats in addition to more training in dealing with active shooters.
These reviews and policy debates will likely continue as the criminal case against Robinson proceeds. In Salt Lake City, days after the shooting, two men from Utah were arrested after an explosive device was found planted underneath a local TV news van. The two men now face charges related to terrorism. More concerns were raised at the recent memorial for Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium in Glendale. There, 42-year-old Joshua Runkles was detained and arrested after he impersonated law enforcement and entered the stadium with knives and firearms.
He told the agents that he was there to do private security; however, according to the officials, he was not law enforcement. He was booked on several charges, including felony impersonation, and later released on bond. Considering instances such as these surrounding Kirk’s death, it is no surprise that many institutions decide to opt out of commemorating his passing. While to some people it would be seen as a fitting tribute, to others it would be seen as distasteful. Ultimately, it is up to the individual clubs to decide if such a memorial would be suitable for their particular community.
The Bottom Line
Should political figures be memorialized at sports events? This is one of the questions that has been raised following the NFL’s Charlie Kirk memorials. Political figures are rarely universally liked, and memorials such as these can prove to be divisive. Many people have also noted that no such memorials were held for any of the other political figures who have recently been attacked for their political affiliations. From the NFL’s point of view, the decision to add a Charlie Kirk memorial before their games was left up to the clubs themselves. While many chose to pay tribute to Charlie Kirk, others felt it was simply not in the best interest of their communities.
Read More: Emotional Response from Charlie Kirk’s Longtime Rival After His Death