Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones reacts to team’s decision to honor Charlie Kirk, calls for peace amid growing tensions: 'It’s impacting us'

The NFL continued its Week 1 schedule this weekend following the shocking assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. While the league organized a moment of silence before the Thursday night game between the Green Bay Packers and Washington Commanders, it gave all remaining home teams the option to decide how they would handle tributes for the rest of the weekend. That decision led to a mixed response across Sunday’s slate of games. Several teams held a moment of silence prior to kickoff, while others proceeded without any formal recognition of the tragedy. The inconsistency was noticed by fans and media alike, especially given the national attention surrounding the event.Among the teams that did observe a pregame tribute was the Dallas Cowboys. Team owner Jerry Jones addressed the decision after his team’s dramatic overtime victory against the New York Giants.“We just all abhor violence,” Jones said, via Jon Machota of TheAthletic.com. “And it’s impacting us all. And, certainly, we all stand together on any front, relative to the threat of violence. . . . I was a young guy, but aware, in the ‘60s when we had huge violence, lost President Kennedy and his brother and many, many others, Martin Luther King. It’s something that we all really need to just be aware of, support our law enforcement, and do everything we can to keep the violence in check.”The league did not issue a mandate for all Sunday games. Instead, each home team was given discretion to decide whether to observe a moment of silence or conduct any form of pregame reflection. Reports indicate that several teams participated in some form of acknowledgment, while others opted not to.The NFL’s approach drew both praise and criticism, with some applauding the flexibility and others questioning the lack of consistency across venues. Ultimately, the decision reflected the league’s effort to avoid politicization while still allowing teams to recognize the gravity of the situation in their own way.While football returned in full force for Week 1, the emotional weight of Charlie Kirk’s assassination lingered throughout the weekend. For some organizations, it served as a reminder of the sport’s connection to the broader national landscape – and the responsibility that comes with it.Also read:"Still not real football": Former NFL QB Kurt Benkert slams Eagles' Tush Push despite 20-17 win over ChiefsAs Jerry Jones and others think about the state of the country, the NFL is once again connected to bigger issues in society.