The Detroit Lions, Cincinnati Bengals, and Baltimore Ravens did not hold tributes for conservative activist Charlie Kirk before their NFL games on Sunday.
The decision came just days after Kirk, 31, was assassinated in Utah while speaking at a college campus.
Several other franchises, including the New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints, Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys, paused before kickoff to remember Kirk’s life and legacy.
The Lions, Bengals and Ravens allowed games to proceed without reference to Kirk’s death, however, sparking outrage online.
Kirk was widely known as a passionate football fan, particularly devoted to the Oregon Ducks.
Six NFL games remain to be played this weekend, leaving open the possibility of additional tributes.
The Ravens’ decision drew attention because the franchise had previously marked national tragedies with silence.
In 2020, after the death of George Floyd, the Ravens held a moment of silence, and players from both teams that day knelt during the National Anthem in protest.
On Thursday night, before the Green Bay Packers faced the Washington Commanders, the Packers honored Kirk with a pre-game moment of silence.
That tribute was mandated by the league office. However, the NFL later announced that future