ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky Prays On Air for Bills’ Safety Who Suffered Cardiac Arrest During Game With Bengals
In the middle of a broadcast, ESPN's Dan Orlovsky bowed his head and prayed for Damar Hamlin's healing.
ESPN football analyst and former football player Dan Orlovsky is being praised after praying on air for Buffalo Bills’ safety Damar Hamlin, who suffered a cardiac arrest on the field Monday during the game between the Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals. Hamlin remains in critical condition in ICU at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.
Orlovsky stated on NFL Live that praying for Hamlin on air was on his heart, reported Fox News. He told the ESPN audience he would bow his head, close his eyes and just pray for Hamlin.
“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 that 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 them peace.
If we didn’t believe that prayer didn’t work, we wouldn’t ask this of you, God. I believe in prayer. We believe in prayer. We lift up Damar Hamlin’s name in Your name. Amen.
Sports fans and commentators have praised Orlovsky for his “powerful” prayer. “Dan Orlovsky didn’t just send off a ‘praying for Damar Hamlin’ tweet. He paused during NFL Live, bowed his head, and prayed. Powerful, brave, and genuine,” Outkick sportswriter Mark Harris tweeted.
Dan Orlovsky didn’t just send off a ‘praying for Damar Hamlin’ tweet.
He paused during NFL Live, bowed his head, and prayed.
Powerful, brave, and genuine. 🙏
pic.twitter.com/zj98W3EaSC— Mark Harris (@itismarkharris) January 3, 2023
“I have never seen anything like this before,” tweeted Denny Burk. “Dan Orlovsky just prayed for Damar Hamlin live on @ESPN moments ago. See below. ‘So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom.’ -Psalm 90:12 @danorlovsky7.”
I have never seen anything like this before. Dan Orlovsky just prayed for Damar Hamlin live on @ESPN moments ago. See below.
"So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom." -Psalm 90:12@danorlovsky7 https://t.co/xmOW5XF9bV
— Denny Burk (@DennyBurk) January 3, 2023
“Shoutout to Dan Orlovsky for not just saying thoughts & prayers but actually stopping NFL Live to bow his head, close his eyes, and pray for Damar Hamlin. Kudos to you, @danorlovsky7,” Entrepreneur Joe Pompliano tweeted.
Shoutout to Dan Orlovsky for not just saying thoughts & prayers but actually stopping NFL Live to bow his head, close his eyes, and pray for Damar Hamlin.
Kudos to you, @danorlovsky7 👏 pic.twitter.com/oBahDRc3ak
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) January 3, 2023
Sportswriter for Faith on the Field Rob Maaddi tweeted “Thoughts are nice. Vibes are cool. PRAYER is POWERFUL.”
Thoughts are nice. Vibes are cool. PRAYER is POWERFUL. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/auUPgPdcpE
— Rob Maaddi (@RobMaaddi) January 3, 2023
CALL TO ACTION:
Please continue to be in prayer for Hamlin that he will be restored to complete health and realize the power of prayer over his life in this difficult time.
Nancy Flory, Ph.D., is a senior editor at The Stream. You can follow her @NancyFlory3, and follow The Stream @Streamdotorg.
