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NFL To Hold Moment Of Silence For Vegas Victims During 'Monday Night Football'

ESPN has announced that it will air the national anthem and moment of silence, diverging from the network's previous plans.
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Entertainment Editor, HuffPost

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The NFL plans to honor the victims of the deadly shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada, by holding a moment of silence before the “Monday Night Football” game between the Washington Redskins and the Kansas City Chiefs. The teams are set to play in Arrowhead stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.

“The Commissioner has asked that there be an on-field moment of silence for Las Vegas before tonight’s game,” The NFL Commissioner’s office told HuffPost. “This will be a moment of reflection for the victims, their families and loved ones and also for the heroic efforts of the first responders.”

In the wake of the tragic shooting during an outdoor concert in Las Vegas that left more than 50 people dead and hundreds injured, ESPN announced the network will air the national anthem as well as the moment of silence. 

Sports Illustrated reporter Richard Deitsch first reported the news on Twitter.

Though there was no official statement, a rep for ESPN confirmed to HuffPost that the anthem would air. 

The network had previously announced it would no longer be airing the national anthem before games in order to devote more on-air time to game coverage.

According to The Washington Post, ESPN has aired the anthem twice this season: once before the “MNF” premiere, which fell on the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, and again last Monday, amid protests against President Donald Trump’s criticism of players kneeling during the national anthem.

The NFL’s television partners, including Fox Sports, NBC Sports, CBS Sports, NFL Network and DirecTV all provided live coverage of that week’s anthem, according to Yahoo. Fox Sports announced Sunday that the network would no longer air the national anthem before football games after last week’s coverage.

Some teams are taking additional action in response to the Las Vegas tragedy.

The Oakland Raiders have donated $50,000 to those affected by the shooting. The team, which will eventually be relocating to Vegas, confirmed the donation to SFGate.

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Before You Go

Super Bowl National Anthems Through The Years
1967(01 of32)
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Jazz trumpeter Al Hirt plays the national anthem prior to the start of Super Bowl I on January 15, 1967 between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Green Bay Packers at the Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. (credit:Diamond Images via Getty Images)
1968(02 of32)
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The National Anthem is played before the start of Super Bowl II between the Green Bay Packer and Oakland Raiders January 14, 1968 at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. The Packers won the game 33-14. (credit:Focus On Sport via Getty Images)
1982(03 of32)
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Diana Ross sings the National Anthem at Super Bowl XVI in Detroit's Silverdome Stadium in 1982. (credit:Bettmann via Getty Images)
1984(04 of32)
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Barry Manilow sings the National Anthem prior to Super Bowl XVIII between the Washington Redskins and Los Angeles Raiders on January 22, 1984 at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Raiders won the Super Bowl 38 - 9. (credit:Focus On Sport via Getty Images)
1987(05 of32)
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Neil Diamond sings the National Anthem prior to Super Bowl XXI between the Denver Broncos and New York Giants on January 26, 1987 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The Giants won the Super Bowl 39 -20. (credit:Focus On Sport via Getty Images)
1988(06 of32)
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Herb Alpert played the National Anthem prior to the Washington Redskins taking on the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXII at the Jack Murphy Stadium on January 31, 1988 in San Diego, California. The Redskins defeated the Broncos 42-10. (credit:Gin Ellis via Getty Images)
1991(07 of32)
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Whitney Houston sings the National Anthem during the pregame show at Super Bowl XXV while tens of thousands of football fans wave tiny American flags in an incredible outburst of patriotism during the Persian Gulf War on Jan. 27, 1991. (credit:Michael Zagaris via Getty Images)
1992(08 of32)
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Harry Connick Jr sings the National Anthem prior to Super Bowl XXVI between the Washington Redskins and Buffalo Bills at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota January 26, 1992. The Redskins won the Super Bowl 37-24. (credit:Focus On Sport via Getty Images)
1993(09 of32)
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Country music star Garth Brooks sings the National Anthem with American sign language translation performed by actress Marlee Matlin prior to Super Bowl XXVII between the Dallas Cowboys and the Buffalo Bills at the Rose Bowl on January 31, 1993 in Pasadena, California. The Cowboys defeated the Bills 52-17. (credit:George Rose via Getty Images)
1994(10 of32)
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Singer Natalie Cole performs the National Anthem to kick off the 1994 Atlanta, Georgia, Superbowl XXVII football game at the Georgia Dome. (credit:George Rose via Getty Images)
1995(11 of32)
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Kathie Lee Gifford sings the National Anthem priot to the start of Super Bowl XXIX at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, Florida on Jan. 29, 1995. (credit:Mike Powell via Getty Images)
1996(12 of32)
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Singer Vanessa Williams sings the national anthem prior to the Dallas Cowboys game versus the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XXX at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona on Jan. 28, 1996. The Cowboys defeated the Steelers 27-17. (credit:Mike Powell via Getty Images)
1997(13 of32)
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Singer Luther Vandross sings the US National Anthem at the Louisiana Superdome Jan. 27, 1997 before the start of Super Bowl XXXI in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Green Bay Packers played the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. (credit:DON EMMERT via Getty Images)
1998(14 of32)
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US folk singer Jewel performs the US national anthem on Jan. 25, 1998 before Super Bowl XXXII at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The defending champion Green Bay Packers played the Denver Broncos. (credit:Getty Images)
1999(15 of32)
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Entertainer Cher sings the national anthem at Super Bowl XXXIII which was held at Pro Player Stadium on January 31, 1999 in Miami, Florida. (credit:Al Pereira via Getty Images)
2000(16 of32)
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US singer Faith Hill sings the US National Anthem before the start of Super Bowl XXXIV at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta Jan. 3, 2000. The St. Louis Rams and Tennessee Titans competed for the NFL 1999 championship. (credit:JEFF HAYNES via Getty Images)
2001(17 of32)
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The Backstreet Boys peform the National Anthem before the Super Bowl XXXV Game between the New York Giants and Baltimore Ravens at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on Jan. 28, 2001. (credit:Andy Lyons via Getty Images)
2002(18 of32)
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Singer Mariah Carey performs 'The National Anthem' on Feb. 3, 2002 at the Louisiana Superdome before Super Bowl XXXVI in New Orleans, Louisiana. The St. Louis Rams and the New England Patriots played for the NFL championship. (credit:JEFF HAYNES via Getty Images)
2003(19 of32)
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The Dixie Chicks sing the national anthem during Super Bowl XXXVII in San Diego, California on Jan. 26, 2003. (credit:KMazur via Getty Images)
2004(20 of32)
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Singer Beyonce performs the US national anthem at Super Bowl XXXVIII at Reliant Stadium on Feb.1, 2004 in Houston, Texas. (credit:JEFF HAYNES via Getty Images)
2005(21 of32)
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Former US presidents George H.W. Bush (R) and Bill Clinton listen to the national anthem sung by the combined choirs of the U.S. Military Academy the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, and the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets before the start of Super Bowl XXXIX between the Philadelphia Eagles and the New England Patriots on Feb. 6, 2005 at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. (credit:ROBERTO SCHMIDT via Getty Images)
2006(22 of32)
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Aretha Franklin and Aaron Neville sing the American National Anthem prior to Super Bowl XL on Feb. 5, 2006 in Detroit, Michigan. The Pittsburgh Steelers faced the Seattle Seahawks. (credit:JEFF HAYNES via Getty Images)
2007(23 of32)
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Billy Joel after performing the National Anthem at Super Bowl XLI at Dolphins Stadium in Miami, Florida on Feb. 4, 2007. (credit:Jeff Kravitz via Getty Images)
2008(24 of32)
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Singer Jordin Sparks performs the National Anthem during the Super Bowl XLII pre-game show on February 3, 2008 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. (credit:Michael Buckner via Getty Images)
2009(25 of32)
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Singer Jennifer Hudson performs the national anthem during the pre-game show prior to the start of Super Bowl XLIII between the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers on February 1, 2009 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (credit:Jeff Kravitz via Getty Images)
2010(26 of32)
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Singer Carrie Underwood sings The United States National Anthem onstage during the Super Bowl XLIV Pregame Show at the Sun Life Stadium on February 7, 2010 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (credit:Alexander Tamargo via Getty Images)
2011(27 of32)
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Singer Christina Aguilera sings the national anthem during Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium on February 6, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. (credit:Ronald Martinez via Getty Images)
2012(28 of32)
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Kelly Clarkson performs the National Anthem during the Bridgestone Super Bowl XLVI Pregame Show at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 5, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (credit:Al Pereira via Getty Images)
2013(29 of32)
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Musician Alicia Keys performs the National Anthem prior to the start of Super Bowl XLVII between the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on February 3, 2013 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (credit:Al Bello via Getty Images)
2014(30 of32)
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Opera singer Renee Fleming performs the National Anthem during the Pepsi Super Bowl XLVIII Pregame Show at MetLife Stadium on February 2, 2014 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (credit:Kevin Mazur via Getty Images)
2015(31 of32)
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Idina Menzel sings the National Anthem at the Super Bowl. The New England Patriots plays against the Seattle Seahawks Sunday, Feb. 1, 2015. (credit:Boston Globe via Getty Images)
2016(32 of32)
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Lady Gaga sings the National Anthem at Super Bowl 50 at Levi's Stadium on February 7, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (credit:Jeff Kravitz via Getty Images)
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