On Tuesday, ESPN analyst and former NFL player Dan Orlovsky surprised and pleased sports viewers by leading a short prayer session on live television in support of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin.
During an episode of "NFL Live," Orlovsky initiated a moment of prayer for Hamlin, who is currently in critical condition after suffering a cardiac arrest during a Monday Night Football game. Orlovsky called for continued prayers for the football player.
"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.
Orlovsky continued, "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."
"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," he finished.
On Twitter, several sports fans and commentators praised Orlovsky's live prayer for Hamlin as "powerful."
"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," Mark Harris of Outkick 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. 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," professor Denny Burk tweeted.
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
Sports and business analyst Joe Pompliano gave a shoutout to Orlovsky for his actions.
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