The Houston Texans joined the list of NFL franchises that held a moment of silence in Week 2, but they did it in a way that immediately sparked backlash.
About 20 minutes before kickoff against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the PA announcer asked fans to observe a moment of silence. Instead of naming conservative podcaster Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated earlier this month, the tribute was kept broad.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we are asking all families to join us in a moment of silence to honor all the victims of violence and natural disasters across the country,” the announcement said. “It’s our hope that together, we condemn all forms of violence. Thank you.”
Fans quickly took to social media, blasting the team for not mentioning Kirk by name. Meanwhile, the Raiders joined the Ravens, Bengals, Lions, Colts, and Vikings in opting not to hold any tribute at all, making this one of the most divisive league-wide moments of the season.
7 NFL teams chose not to honor Charlie Kirk with a moment of silence this weekend:
— Jon Root (@JonnyRoot_) September 16, 2025
- Detroit Lions
- Indianapolis Colts
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Baltimore Ravens
- Minnesota Vikings
- Houston Texans
- Las Vegas Raiders
Every one of these teams honored George Floyd back in 2020…