“I Still Can’t Believe He’s Gone”: Anthony Rizzo Reveals the Final Heartbreaking Messages from Charlie Kirk Before the 31-Year-Old Activist Was Assassinated
Chicago — Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo sat in the dimly lit clubhouse on Tuesday afternoon, his hands trembling slightly as he scrolled through his phone. His usually composed demeanor faltered when the name “Charlie Kirk” appeared on his screen. Kirk, the conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, was more than just a public figure to Rizzo—he was a close personal friend, confidant, and a steady presence in his life away from the game.
Four days ago, Kirk was assassinated in a brazen attack outside a private speaking engagement in Dallas, Texas. He was 31. The news sent shockwaves through political and sports circles alike, but for Rizzo, it was personal in a way that headlines could never capture.
For the first time since the tragedy, Rizzo has decided to speak publicly about his friend—and to share the final messages Kirk sent him in the hours before his life was cut short.
A Friendship Few Knew About
Rizzo’s friendship with Kirk had largely flown under the radar. Publicly, they occupied vastly different worlds—Rizzo in the high-pressure orbit of Major League Baseball, and Kirk in the charged arena of American politics. But privately, the two bonded over something much simpler: their shared love of mentorship and giving back.
They first met at a charity golf tournament in Arizona in 2017, where Rizzo was immediately struck by Kirk’s passion for inspiring young people. “He just had this energy about him,” Rizzo recalled. “He was bold, sometimes controversial, but he truly believed in helping people find their purpose. That resonated with me.”
Over the years, they stayed in touch through texts and phone calls. Kirk would often fly out to Chicago to watch Rizzo play, and the two frequently met up during the off-season for quiet dinners far from the cameras.
“They’d talk about everything—life, faith, what it meant to be in the public eye,” said one mutual friend. “Charlie saw Anthony as a grounding presence. Anthony saw Charlie as someone who reminded him why it mattered to stand for something.”
The Final Messages
On the night before his assassination, Kirk messaged Rizzo from his hotel room in Dallas. Rizzo opened his phone and, for a long moment, simply stared at the words before showing them to the reporter.
Charlie Kirk (9:47 PM): “Hey brother, big night tomorrow. Feels heavy. Not sure why, but it does. If anything happens, know that you’ve always been one of the real ones. Never stop using your platform for good.”
Charlie Kirk (10:02 PM): “Life’s strange. You think you have all this time… and then you realize time is the one thing none of us really own.”
Charlie Kirk (10:06 PM): “I’m proud of you. Whatever happens tomorrow or next year or 50 years from now, just remember that.”
Those were the last words Rizzo ever received from him.
“I didn’t know how to respond,” Rizzo admitted, his voice breaking. “I thought maybe he was just tired, or overwhelmed. I told him to get some rest. The next morning, he was gone.”
A Brazen Attack That Stunned the Nation
The details of Kirk’s assassination remain under investigation. According to Dallas police, the 31-year-old was leaving a closed-door event when an unidentified gunman opened fire from a nearby rooftop. Kirk was struck twice and pronounced dead at the scene. The assailant fled and has not yet been apprehended.
Authorities have released few specifics, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation, but federal agents are reportedly examining Kirk’s security arrangements and potential threats he received in the days leading up to the attack.
The killing has sparked widespread outrage and mourning. Thousands of supporters gathered for a candlelight vigil outside Turning Point USA’s headquarters in Phoenix, while tributes have poured in from across the political spectrum. Even those who disagreed with Kirk’s politics expressed horror at the violence.
Rizzo’s Public Silence—and Private Grief
Until now, Rizzo had refrained from commenting publicly. He skipped two games, citing “personal reasons,” and quietly returned to the Cubs’ lineup on Monday night.
But behind the scenes, teammates say he has been deeply shaken. “He hasn’t been himself,” said one Cubs player who asked not to be named. “This wasn’t just a news story to him. This was someone he loved like family.”
Rizzo admitted that he initially felt guilty about not recognizing what Kirk’s messages might have meant. “I keep thinking, what if I had called him? What if I had said, ‘Are you okay?’ But you can drive yourself crazy with the what-ifs.”
Instead, he said, he’s choosing to honor Kirk’s memory the way he believes his friend would have wanted—by speaking up. “Charlie hated silence. He used to say silence is where fear grows. I won’t be silent about who he was.”
A Complicated Legacy
Even as mourners celebrate Kirk’s passion and charisma, his death has reignited debates about his polarizing legacy. Critics point to his combative rhetoric and controversial stances on issues like immigration, education, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Supporters argue that his willingness to speak bluntly was part of what made him impactful.
Rizzo, for his part, said he was aware of the controversies but insists they never defined the man he knew. “People saw the soundbites,” Rizzo said. “I saw the late-night calls where he’d talk someone off the ledge, or the times he gave away his speaking fee to pay a kid’s tuition. That’s the Charlie I knew.”
The Lasting Impact
As he prepares to return to the field, Rizzo says he will carry Kirk’s words with him. He plans to wear a small wristband with Kirk’s initials and has spoken with the Cubs about organizing a youth mentorship event in Kirk’s honor later this year.
“He always said the measure of your life isn’t how loud you were, it’s how many lives you touched,” Rizzo said quietly. “If I can do that even a fraction as much as he did, I’ll be proud.”
When asked what he would say to Kirk if he had one more chance, Rizzo didn’t hesitate. “I’d tell him I love him,” he said. “And that I’ll finish the work he started.”
A Friendship Cut Short, but Not Forgotten
Outside Wrigley Field, a small makeshift memorial has appeared near the third base entrance—flowers, candles, and handwritten notes from fans who learned of the pair’s friendship only after Kirk’s death. One note simply reads: “Carry the torch, Anthony.”
Rizzo stood silently before that memorial earlier this week, hands shoved deep in his jacket pockets, his eyes glistening in the chill Chicago air.
“I still can’t believe he’s gone,” he whispered.
Then he walked back inside, slipped on his Cubs cap, and prepared to play the game he loves—for the friend who will never again watch from the stands.