Packers face backlash for Charlie Kirk tribute before Commanders game - Here's what happened

The Green Bay Packers, led by Jordan Love and Micah Parsons, paid tribute to Charlie Kirk just before their Thursday game

Published on: Sep 12, 2025, 05:47:17 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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The Green Bay Packers, led by Jordan Love and Micah Parsons, paid tribute to Charlie Kirk just before their Thursday game against the Washington Commanders. However, fans did not take their gesture well. Matt LaFleur and co were unexpectedly slammed on social media.

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur stands next to Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst (AP)

Just before the Packers vs Commanders Week 2 game, the stadium announcer asked fans to observe a moment of silence to honor Kirk, who was fatally shot at a Utah University event on Wednesday. The American flags at Lambeau Field were also at half-staff.

While some fans appreciated the Packers' gesture, others slammed the franchise.

“Kinda hilarious Packers/NFL doing a moment of silence for Charlie Kirk 20 minutes before the game starts when no one is in the stadium and only people watching pregame noticed….why even do it when no one is watching,” one person wrote on X, platform formerly known as Twitter.

“Did the NFL just cut away from the Green Bay Packers and Washington Commanders game because they started booing the moment of silence for Charlie Kirk?” another fan added.

“The Packers-Commanders game tonight held a moment of silence in honor of Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated yesterday. Many teams and players around the NFL plan to honor Kirk,” a third person tweeted.

Charlie Kirk shooting

Trump ally and founder of Turning Point USA, Kirk, was fatally shot at Utah Valley University in Orem on Wednesday. As the 31-year-old was answering questions, a shot rang out. He could be seen reaching up with his right hand as blood gushed from his neck.

Authorities detained two people, but they were released. On Thursday, the FBI posted photos of the person believed responsible.

The photos showed a person in a hat, sunglasses, and a long-sleeve black shirt. The agency announced a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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