Which NFL teams chose not to honor Charlie Kirk? All you need to know

The NFL has seen public debate after the death of Charlie Kirk. Many teams held a moment of silence during Week 2 games, while some teams did not. The NFL had already done a league-wide tribute at the Thursday Night Football opener and left the rest of the decisions to each team.

The choice by some teams not to hold their own tribute led to strong reactions. Fans and media compared the decisions to past actions, especially when certain teams had observed moments of silence for other causes. The discussion quickly became a national topic.

This has created a divide among fans and in the media. While many teams held tributes, the focus has been on the teams that decided not to. Here is a closer look at what happened and which teams made different choices.

NFL teams that did not hold tributes

Five teams did not hold a moment of silence for Charlie Kirk. They were the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts, and Minnesota Vikings. Reports from several major outlets confirmed these were the teams that did not join in the Week 2 remembrances.

The league did not require the teams to act. The NFL had already included Kirk in its Thursday night opener. Because of that, some teams chose not to repeat the tribute at their own games. Still, this choice was seen as unusual by sections of fans.

The reaction to these five teams was strong. Critics said the teams had observed moments of silence for other political or social figures in the past, so not doing so for Kirk raised questions. On social media, fans debated whether the choice was fair or selective.

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NFL teams that held tributes

The rest of the NFL teams did not go without a moment of silence or other forms of paying tribute. Kirk was honored by teams like the Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans, Arizona Cardinals, as well as the Kansas City Chiefs before their matches.

The participating teams put the tribute into perspective in different ways. Others would associate it with appeals to unity, and a few others were also linked to broader anti-gun violence appeals. The NFL had left it to the teams, and therefore, each team has decided on its own way to acknowledge the moment.

These tributes were appreciated by their home supporters. The fans were quiet, and in certain stadiums, messages of peace or reflection were posted.

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As the season moves forward, the league may continue to face questions about how teams should handle tributes in the future.

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