Inside The Vikings

Vikings, Bears honor victims of Minneapolis church shooting before MNF

Players, coaches, and staffers from both teams wore Annunciation shirts during pregame warmups on Monday.
Will Ragatz|
Vikings cornerback Isaiah Rodgers in a shirt honoring the victims of a recent shooting at a Minneapolis church.
Vikings cornerback Isaiah Rodgers in a shirt honoring the victims of a recent shooting at a Minneapolis church. | Images Courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings

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Players, coaches, and staff members from both the Vikings and Bears wore shirts honoring the victims of the recent shooting at a Minneapolis church during warmups ahead of Monday night's game at Soldier Field.

On August 27, two children were killed and over 20 people were injured in a shooting at Church of the Annunciation in Minneapolis, which took place during a Catholic Mass attended by the students and faculty of Annunciation Catholic School.

The shirts worn by the two teams on Monday have the name Annunciation on the front along with the school's colors and logo. On the back are these words, which are the school's five pillars: "Be kind, be respectful, be inclusive, be my best self, be brave."

According to SKOR North's Declan Goff, Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell spoke to Annunciation students and parents this past weekend.

"We all stopped, and immediately our hearts and minds were with the victims and all who were impacted," O'Connell said at his first press conference following the shooting. "Personally, as a father of four, I happen to have a 10- and an 8-year-old, and it's impossible for me to wrap my mind around what those parents are feeling.

"I'm absolutely heartbroken for them, and no child should ever be lost to violence in any way," O'Connell continued continued. "We are praying for all those who witnessed the attack, especially all the young kids who witnessed it. Understandably, their lives will be altered forever. And lastly, just thinking about the first responders and those hospital workers who stepped up in those moments so quickly and tirelessly to ensure more lives weren't lost."

There are a variety of ways to help the victims of the shooting and their families during this difficult time. SKOR North also has a fundraiser going.

For all of the latest coverage of the shooting, go to Bring Me The News.

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Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI, who also covers the Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, and other Minnesota teams. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.

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