It has been more than two and a half years since Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest during a game.
“Thoughts and prayers” flooded social media, but former NFL quarterback turned ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky wanted to take it a step further.
Dan Orlovsky before the Super Bowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles at State Farm Stadium Feb. 12, 2023, in Glendale, Ariz. (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
So, he did just that the next day on live television.
“I heard the Buffalo Bills organization say that ‘We believe in prayer,’ and maybe this is not the right thing to do, but it’s just on my heart, and I want to pray for Damar Hamlin right now. I’m going to do it out loud. I’m going to close my eyes and bow my head, and I’m just going to pray for him,” Orlovsky said.
“God, we come to you in these moments that we don’t understand, that are hard because we believe that you’re God, and coming to you and praying to you has impact. We’re sad. We’re angry. We want answers, but some things are unanswerable. We just want to pray, truly come to you and pray for strength for Damar, for healing for Damar, for comfort for Damar. Be with his family to give him the peace.”
Buffalo Bills fans hold signs in support of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin before a game between the Bills and the New England Patriots at Highmark Stadium Jan. 8, 2023, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)
Orlovsky admitted on the “Awful Announcing” podcast that it was uncomfortable for him to decide to pray on live television, knowing that prayer is not for everyone.
“Everyone keeps saying ‘thoughts and prayers, thoughts and prayers, thoughts and prayers.’ And I thought to myself, ‘Someone should actually pray for Damar — like actually pray for him — instead of saying thoughts and prayers.’ I started to have this feeling in my heart, ‘OK, Dan, God’s telling you, go pray for Damar.’”
After going back and forth with himself and his colleagues, he said the prayer on television, and “99.999999999%” of the reaction was positive.
“Did I get an email here and there or a text message here and there from people who said it wasn’t for them, not their cup of tea? Of course, I did,” Orlovsky said. “But, overwhelmingly, I think a lot of people just connected, and it resonated with [them].”
Buffalo Bills players pray for teammate Damar Hamlin during the first half of a game against the Cincinnati Bengals Jan. 2, 2023, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)
Orlovsky also received an “overwhelmingly positive” reaction from his company for his actions.
Hamlin spent about a week in the hospital and was able to return for the Bills’ first game of the 2024 season, where he has been a key player in their defense ever since.
