The National Football League has released a statement explaining why they paid tribute to far-right activist Charlie Kirk in the wake of his assassination on Wednesday afternoon.
Kirk was shot in the neck during an event at Utah Valley University and was rushed to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Prior to kickoff of the game between the Green Bay Packers and the Washington Commanders, the Packers observed a moment of silence for the controversial political figured.
Before that moment, Lambeau Field’s public address announcer 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.’
The NFL released a statement in a response to a PFT question regarding the gesture, revealing that the choice was made by the league.
‘Last night’s moment was the league’s decision. It’s up to the clubs for this Sunday’s games,’ the statement read. ‘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. Clubs also often hold moments following a tragic event that affects their community.
The NFL says they instructed the Packers to hold a moment of silence for Charlie Kirk
While the Packers were told to do this, the NFL says clubs have discretion this weekend
‘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.
‘This is in addition to honoring those in the NFL family from tributes to recently passed players or personnel, or a player such as Damar Hamlin in 2023.
‘The NFL also honored before Super Bowl LIV NBA star Kobe Bryant and the other victims of the helicopter crash (Gianna Bryant, Sarah and Payton Chester, Christina Mauser, Ara Zobayan) and also Pro Football Hall of Famer Chris Doleman who passed that week.
‘In just this calendar year: Lift Every Voice and Sing has been performed at league events since 2020 following the murder of George Floyd and the events of the summer of 2020, including last Thursday during the Kickoff game in Philadelphia. It is also performed before the Super Bowl.
‘This summer before the Hall of Fame game in Canton, the league honored the victims and those impacted by the attack at 345 Park Avenue. During Week 18 games last season, the NFL honored the victims of the Bourbon Street terrorist attack.
‘Also, that season the NFL held a moment to recognize those lost in the deadly crashes near Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia and also prior to the Vikings-Rams Wild Card game that was moved from LA to Arizona due to the wildfires.’
Elsewhere in the sports world, the New York Yankees held a moment of silence for Kirk before a game on Wednesday night. The following day, President Trump visited the team on the 24th anniversary of the September 11th attacks.
On Friday, authorities in Utah revealed that they arrested a suspect in connection with the shooting – 22-year-old Tyler Robinson.
Tyler Robinson seen in his mugshot following his arrest over the shooting of Charlie Kirk
Robinson, 22, accused of killing Charlie Kirk, pictured with his parents Matt and Amber and two younger brothers in a family photo shared online
His family revealed that Robinson brought up Kirk’s visit to Utah Valley University on September 10 during a family dinner and spoke of his dislike for the 31-year-old MAGA influencer.
‘They talked about why they didn’t like him and the viewpoints that he had,’ Utah governor Spencer Cox revealed in a press conference this morning.
The family members also told police Robinson had described Kirk as ‘full of hate and spreading hate’.
Robinson’s comments raised a red flag among his family – so much so that they told police about the conversation following his arrest for Kirk’s murder.
It was Robinson’s father who ultimately turned his son into law enforcement.
Sources told the Daily Mail that Robinson confessed to his father, Matt Robinson, who owns and operates a construction company.
Matt had recognized his son in photos shared by the FBI and confronted him about the shooting.
When Robinson confessed, his dad urged him to turn himself in.
The 22-year-old reportedly told his dad that he would rather kill himself than turn himself in, but was persuaded to speak with a local youth minister, who also works with the US Marshals Service.
