A scary scene unfolded on January 2, 2023 at the NFL football stadium in Cincinnati. The Bengals were playing the visiting Buffalo Bills in a decisive game to see which team would advance towards the Super Bowl. It happened in the first quarter as the game was just getting underway.
The rookie
The Bills’ safety, Damar Hamlin (24), is a popular Black player with teammates and fans. He signed a four-year rookie contract with the team in 2021. Hamlin sometimes wore a cross on his cheek which served to cut glare on sunny game days but also made a faith statement. Even before turning pro, he had founded a charity called “Chasing Millions” to help poor children in America and around the world.
On this particular day, Hamlin had just tackled a Bengals player in what looked like a very routine play. The player’s helmet had hit Hamlin squarely in the chest during the encounter. After the play, Hamlin got back on his feet, stopped, and fell straight backwards to the ground. Something was very wrong.
The reaction
His fellow players looked on in shock and quickly motioned to the sidelines for medical help. As thousands of stadium spectators looked on (as well as multitudes more on TV), the medics began working on Hamlin. They cut off his jersey when they couldn’t get a pulse. They applied manual CPR and then a defibrillator to get his heart pumping again.
Players on both teams were visibly moved. Some had tears on their cheeks. Others were down on one knee praying. Gone was the usual chatter and jesting on the sidelines. Everyone looked serious and concerned.
An ambulance drove onto the field. When the medics did all they could, they lifted Hamlin on a stretcher into the vehicle which departed. As it drove away, a large group of players and staff were huddled together on one knee praying for their fallen colleague.
The result
The game was cancelled as the players were no longer in a competitive frame of mind. Messages of support, concern and prayer poured in from all sides. Hamlin was put into an induced coma in the ICU of a nearby hospital.
Over the next few days, doctors reported on Hamlin’s progress. It was gradual at first and then more rapid so much that doctors called it “remarkable”. When he came out of his coma and was able to talk again, his first words were not “Where am I?” or “What happened?” but “Who won the game?”
When Buffalo played the Miami Dolphins a few days later, Hamlin sent a message “Love you guys”. His family thanked everyone for their prayers and support. Soon after, Hamlin was stable enough to be moved from Cincinnati back to a hospital in his hometown of Buffalo. He was then released to continue his recovery (and cheer on his team) from home.
In a recent video, Hamlin expressed his deep gratitude and added, “What happened to me on ‘Monday Night Football,’ I feel is a direct example of God using me as a vessel to share my passion and my love directly from my heart with the entire world.” Since his health crisis, his charity for underprivileged youth has received over $9 million dollars in donations.
So, what were my takeaways from all this? Here are three. First, I was encouraged to know of the faith of Hamlin and his family. Second, I was encouraged to see how many players, staff and fans share that faith in some form as they instinctively (and unashamedly) began praying for him on the field. Third, I was encouraged in my faith to see how God answered the heartfelt prayers of so many people and spared the life of a young man whose heart had suddenly stopped.
My conclusion? Faith is still very much alive on the playing field, and God is very good at bringing good out of bad.
Rob Weatherby is a retired pastor.
