Charlie Kirk, who had established himself as one of the most powerful conservative voices and a leading ally of Donald Trump, was shot dead at Utah Valley University on Wednesday. Just 31 years old, Kirk often described himself as a God-fearing man and was never shy about speaking on issues that troubled him. That candor extended beyond politics as well.
Advertisement
It showed up in the way he spoke about his beloved Chicago Bears, a team he held close to his heart. However, when it came to their quarterback, his feelings were far less affectionate.
Kirk was born on the outskirts of Chicago, specifically in Arlington Heights, where the Bears recently announced plans for their new stadium. Just days ago, at one of his rallies, he made sure not to let a Vikings fan get away with mocking his team.
The fan, who introduced himself as a lifelong supporter of the Vikings, told Kirk he loved the sport for how masculine it is. But he also argued that what Bears quarterback Caleb Williams was doing (painting his nails and the like) was the opposite of that.
Before the divisional rival could even finish his thought, Kirk fired back, reminding him that the Vikings have never won a Super Bowl, while the Bears have (once). Since the fan went on to call Chicago the worst team in the NFL, Kirk took issue with that.
Strikingly, though, he didn’t seem nearly as bothered by the jab at Williams. “First of all, I’m not a defender of Caleb Williams,” Kirk had said.
“Second of all, [the] ’85 Bears were the greatest football team ever assembled in NFL history. Third of all, I don’t have to hear smack talk from a football team. I don’t think you’ve ever been to a Super Bowl,” he added.
The Vikings, in fact, have reached the Super Bowl four times, but they have never managed to win. When the fan retorted by reminding Kirk of this, the political activist replied: “That makes it even worse. Choke.”
Kirk then doubled down on both his disdain for Williams and his team’s rivalry with the Vikings. He reminded the fan that the team had been knocked out of the playoffs last year… Or, in his words, had choked.
“So, no, I’m not a fan of Caleb Williams. But I’ll say ‘Go Bears’. I’m not gonna defend Caleb Williams, but I’ll say the Bears are a much better franchise than the Minnesota Vikings,” reiterated Kirk.
View this post on Instagram
The above video was filmed just days before the season opener between the Vikings and the Bears at Soldier Field. Despite a strong start through the first three quarters, the Bears lost their lead in the fourth and couldn’t claw their way back.
Williams did his part, completing 21 of 35 passes for 210 yards with one touchdown and an 86.6 passer rating. But in the second half, the Bears’ rebuilt offensive line began to break down, giving the Vikings’ defense an opening to ramp up the pressure on the QB. It seems Williams can’t get a break … On or off the field.
