Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Joey Aguilar has moved the college football world by calling for a minute of silence before each game to honor the late Charlie Kirk, founder of the National Unity Foundation, who passed away at a community event.
Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Joey Aguilar has moved the college football world with a powerful gesture that has already sparked nationwide attention. Aguilar, known for his leadership on the field and his calm, determined presence off it, has called for a minute of silence before every game this season to honor the late Charlie Kirk, founder of the National Unity Foundation, who tragically passed away during a community event earlier this month. The announcement has sent shockwaves not only through college football circles but also across the broader landscape of sports, culture, and civic life, with many praising the young quarterback’s sense of responsibility and compassion.
Joey Aguilar’s influence extends far beyond his role as Tennessee’s quarterback. Since transferring and taking over the Volunteers’ offense, he has quickly earned the respect of teammates, coaches, and fans alike for his maturity, work ethic, and sense of duty to the team’s larger community. But this call for unity and remembrance has lifted Aguilar into an entirely different light—one that portrays him not just as a football player but as a cultural leader at a time when unity and empathy are in short supply.
The loss of Charlie Kirk has been felt profoundly in communities across the country. As founder of the National Unity Foundation, Kirk was a figure known for championing dialogue, service, and connection in an increasingly divided world. His sudden passing during a community gathering has left a void that many institutions, including those outside the world of philanthropy, are now striving to fill. Kirk’s foundation was centered on bridging divides and creating opportunities for Americans of all backgrounds to find common ground in service, compassion, and civic engagement. For a college athlete like Aguilar to pick up that mantle and carry it into one of the most visible arenas in American culture—college football—has become a symbolic act with extraordinary reach.
Aguilar’s decision did not emerge from a press release carefully crafted by media handlers. Instead, it came in an emotional post-practice press conference, where his words reflected raw sincerity rather than rehearsed soundbites. “Charlie Kirk spent his life building bridges and giving back,” Aguilar said, visibly moved. “We’re taught as athletes to honor the game, to respect those who came before us, and to give everything for something bigger than ourselves. That’s what Charlie represented in his life, and I think it’s only right that we honor him as a football family, as a college football community, and as a nation. A minute of silence before every game is the least we can do to remember someone who stood for unity.”
The message resonated almost instantly. Clips of his speech flooded social media, drawing responses from fans across the country, rival teams, and even professional athletes. What started as a statement of respect has grown into a movement. Several SEC schools have already expressed their willingness to join in the minute of silence, while coaches and athletic directors across the NCAA have begun discussions on whether to formalize the practice for the remainder of the season. The NCAA itself has not yet released an official statement, but the organization’s leadership is reportedly exploring ways to accommodate Aguilar’s request on a national scale.
For the Tennessee Volunteers, the gesture has become a rallying cry. Head coach Josh Heupel voiced his full support, saying that Aguilar has set an example not only for the team but for the entire student-athlete community. “Joey has always been a leader in our locker room, but what he’s done here shows leadership at a level that transcends sports,” Heupel said. “We play football to win, but we also play for each other, for our fans, and for the values that unite us. Honoring Charlie Kirk in this way is a powerful reminder of why the game matters.”
Inside the Volunteers’ locker room, players have already embraced the initiative. Senior linebacker Aaron Beasley noted that many of the players had discussed ways to show support for the communities affected by Kirk’s passing but that Aguilar’s idea crystallized their feelings into action. “We talk about being more than athletes all the time,” Beasley said. “Joey put it into practice. We’re behind him 100 percent.”
The symbolism of a minute of silence is not lost on anyone. Sports have always provided a platform for collective mourning and collective celebration, serving as a place where communities gather not just to cheer but to heal. From tributes to fallen teammates to moments of reflection after national tragedies, the act of pausing before a game has become a sacred tradition in American sports culture. By invoking that tradition for Charlie Kirk, Aguilar has effectively tied the college football season to a broader narrative of empathy, unity, and remembrance.
Fans across Tennessee have responded with emotion. At Knoxville’s Market Square, murals and impromptu memorials have sprung up featuring Kirk’s likeness alongside Tennessee’s iconic orange and white, symbolizing the fusion of civic and athletic pride. Ticket holders for the upcoming Volunteers game at Neyland Stadium are already planning signs and displays to reinforce the moment of silence, ensuring that the tribute is not just a quiet pause but also a visible commitment to unity.
Media analysts have noted that Aguilar’s action also arrives at a pivotal moment in college football, when players are increasingly being recognized not just for their athletic contributions but for their voices in shaping culture and community. The era of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals has opened new avenues for athletes to wield influence, but Aguilar’s decision demonstrates that the power of a player’s platform is not limited to endorsements or financial gain. It can also be used to channel grief, respect, and inspiration on a massive scale.
The ripple effects of Aguilar’s call are likely to extend well beyond the football field. Civic leaders and educators have already praised the quarterback for modeling empathy and leadership in a way that resonates with young people. Several school districts in Tennessee have announced they will incorporate moments of silence into their own athletic events and assemblies in honor of Kirk, inspired directly by Aguilar’s remarks. “When kids see their sports heroes stepping up for something bigger than themselves, it makes an impact,” one Knoxville principal explained. “It teaches them that leadership is about more than just winning games.”
Of course, the gesture has not been without its critics. Some commentators have questioned whether honoring a public figure during athletic events risks politicizing sports in ways that could be divisive. But Aguilar’s insistence on framing the tribute around Kirk’s commitment to unity rather than political labels has helped temper much of that criticism. “This isn’t about politics,” Aguilar emphasized. “This is about people. Charlie Kirk dedicated his life to bringing people together. That’s what we want to reflect.”
The Volunteers’ next home game is expected to be the first major stage for the new tradition. Neyland Stadium, with its capacity of over 100,000, will fall into a collective hush as players, coaches, fans, and staff observe the minute of silence. For those in attendance, the moment will carry the weight not only of mourning but also of unity—thousands of individuals from different backgrounds coming together in shared respect. That image alone may prove to be one of the defining visuals of the season, replayed across broadcasts and remembered for years.
Sportswriters have already begun to compare Aguilar’s gesture to some of the most memorable moments in football history—times when the game transcended its usual boundaries to symbolize something larger. From the tributes following 9/11 to the memorials for fallen teammates and coaches, football has always had a way of magnifying acts of remembrance. Aguilar’s call for silence now stands to join that legacy, cementing his reputation not only as a talented quarterback but also as a leader of character.
In interviews since making the announcement, Aguilar has remained humble, consistently redirecting attention away from himself and toward Kirk’s legacy. He has expressed hopes that the minute of silence will spark conversations among fans, teammates, and communities about the values of compassion, unity, and service. “If this helps even one person feel seen, if it inspires someone to reach out and connect instead of divide, then it’s worth it,” Aguilar said.
As the news continues to spread, the story of Joey Aguilar’s call for unity has already begun to ripple into the professional football world. NFL players and coaches have shared their admiration on social media, with some suggesting that similar gestures could be adopted at pro games. The idea that a college quarterback could inspire a nationwide practice underscores the profound potential of athletes to shape cultural moments.
Ultimately, Joey Aguilar’s tribute to Charlie Kirk serves as a reminder that football is not just a game of touchdowns, tackles, and trophies. It is a stage where athletes can use their voices and visibility to honor, inspire, and lead. Aguilar’s call for a minute of silence is more than a symbolic gesture; it is a bold statement about what matters in life and what values are worth carrying forward.
For Tennessee, the 2025 season will be remembered not only for wins and losses but for the example set by its quarterback. And for fans, both in Knoxville and across the nation, the sight of tens of thousands of people united in silence will stand as proof that even in moments of loss, the human spirit can find strength through unity.
As kickoff approaches and the anticipation builds, one thing is already certain: when the whistle blows and Neyland Stadium falls silent, Joey Aguilar’s voice will have already echoed louder than any cheer, louder than any anthem, and louder than any play ever could. His call for remembrance will resonate far beyond the gridiron, honoring Charlie Kirk’s legacy and reminding us all that sometimes, the greatest victories come not from points scored but from unity achieved.
