The Minnesota Vikings failed to mention Charlie Kirk during a moment of silence that took place just before their Sunday night loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
In the days since the horrific assassination of political activist Charlie Kirk, American sports teams have held moments of silence and tributes to the slain conservative icon.
Some of those teams included the New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, and several collegiate football teams. In the NFL, teams that honored Kirk included the Green Bay Packers, Miami Dolphins, Dallas Cowboys, Tennessee Titans, Arizona Cardinals, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Additionally, NASCAR held a moment of silence for Kirk and UFC posted a tribute. However, no acknowledgement of Kirk was included during a moment of silence held by the Vikings on Sept. 14.
According to ESPN reporter Kevin Seifert, the Vikings held a moment of silence for all those affected by last month’s shooting at Annunciation Catholic School and “all victims of recent gun violence.”
The Vikings held a moment of silence before the national anthem for the victims and survivors of the shooting at Annunciation as well as for "all victims of recent gun violence."
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) September 15, 2025
Kirk was not specifically acknowledged during the moment of silence. The New York Post and Daily Mail have also reported that the Vikings are among the various NFL teams who did not honor Kirk.
Alpha News reached out to the communications director for the Vikings regarding this story but has not heard back.
Sports teams that honored Kirk were commended by the White House in a press release that said “these tributes reflect the widespread admiration for Kirk’s dedication to inspiring the next generation of American Patriots.”
“We commend these organizations for honoring a figure who championed the values that unite us all, and we join the nation in celebrating his legacy,” added the White House.
Following the moment of silence, the Vikings lost to the Atlanta Falcons 22-6. The Vikings are 1-1 and will play the Cincinnati Bengals at home next Sunday at noon.
Luke Sprinkel
Luke Sprinkel previously worked as a Legislative Assistant at the Minnesota House of Representatives. He grew up as a Missionary Kid (MK) living in England, Thailand, Tanzania, and the Middle East. Luke graduated from Regent University in 2018.
