North Carolina football is making headlines this week, and not because of anything happening on the field. According to the Daily Mail, the Panthers have fired Football Communications Coordinator Charlie Rock after allegedly making several shocking and insensitive posts about the assassination of MAGA activist Charlie Kirk.
Yes, you read that right. North Carolina’s Charlie Rock allegedly mocked the death of Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed on Wednesday while speaking at a Turning Point USA Q&A event at Utah Valley University. The murder sent shockwaves through the political world, with social media flooded by reactions from both supporters and critics of the conservative firebrand. But Rock’s alleged response? Completely out of bounds. Sports fans are not happy either. “Good luck getting hired again, pal,” wrote one via X.
Images circulating online reportedly show NFL employee Rock sharing a clip of Kirk saying it was “worth it to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year” to protect the Second Amendment, and then adding his own comment: “Why are yall sad? Your man said it was worth it.” However, another screenshot allegedly shows Rock posting the Wu-Tang Clan song “Protect Ya Neck” after the shooting.
North Carolina NFL Fans Are Up in Arms
The Panthers wasted no time distancing themselves from the controversy. In a statement Thursday, the team said: “The views expressed by our employees are their own and do not represent those of the Carolina Panthers. We do not condone violence of any kind. We are taking this matter very seriously and have accordingly addressed it with the individual.”
Rock’s firing marks a dramatic fall for someone who had just started climbing the NFL PR ladder. According to his LinkedIn profile, Rock first joined the Panthers in June 2024 before getting promoted to Football Communications Coordinator. He had previously worked with the Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Rams, and even at the College Football National Championship. But one bad decision on Instagram appears to have ended his NFL career, at least for now.
Meanwhile, the killing of Charlie Kirk, 30, has continued to dominate headlines. The married father of two was struck by a single bullet, collapsing immediately in front of a shocked audience before being rushed to a hospital, where he later died. The shooter remains at large, with the FBI and Utah police launching a major manhunt.
Social Media Reacts to Charlie Kirk’s Death
Kirk’s death has sparked strong reactions across the sports world. New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart, who grew up near the scene of the shooting, posted on Instagram: “This is some bull s*** man!!! Absolutely sickening!!! Praying for him and his family.” Dart called Kirk someone who “did great things for our country” and urged an end to political violence.
Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson also weighed in, writing: “Celebrating the death of someone you don’t share the same beliefs as is wild. Seeing it play out in real time is disgusting.” Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker posted a heartfelt tribute to Kirk, thanking him for being “a strong witness for Christ” and praying for his family.
The bottom line? The North Carolina football fans clearly decided they couldn’t let a staff member publicly mock the death of someone whose assassination has united a huge swath of Americans in grief. Whatever your politics, joking about someone being murdered crosses a line. And Charlie Rock just learned that lesson the hard way. What do you think? Did the Panthers make the right call in firing Rock immediately? Or should he have been given a chance to apologize for the things he said about Charlie Kirk first?
Sofia Bassett 
