Prayers flood in for Damar Hamlin after Bills safety collapses

Prayers flood in for Damar Hamlin after Bills safety collapses on field

By Jon Ackerman Jan 2, 2023

Buffalo Bills players and staff pray for Bills safety Damar Hamlin in Cincinnati, Jan. 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)

Monday night’s matchup between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals was postponed in the first quarter after Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field. He had tackled Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins, then quickly stood up, but immediately collapsed, as athletic trainers rushed to help.

CPR was administered on the field to Hamlin before he was placed in an ambulance and taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. The Bills later stated that he “suffered a cardiac arrest” following the hit and “his heartbeat was restored on the field. … He is currently sedated and listed in critical condition.”

As the events played out on national TV, prayers flooded in on social media for Hamlin, a 24-year-old in his second NFL season with Buffalo after being drafted in the sixth round of the 2021 draft from the University of Pittsburgh. Please join us in praying for complete healing for Hamlin.

My prayers and thoughts go out to @HamlinIsland the Hamlin Family. I’m praying that you pull through bro. Love 🙏🏾💙

— Tee Higgins⁵ (@teehiggins5) January 3, 2023

Prayer is real, and it’s powerful. Constantly praying for Damar and his family

— Dawson Knox (@dawson_knox) January 3, 2023

Please pray for our brother.

— Josh Allen (@JoshAllenQB) January 3, 2023

Still speechless. Prayers to DHam and his family. 🙏🏽 Please God be with them! Please.

— Jessie Bates III (@jlbiii3) January 3, 2023

Praying for Damar and his family. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers🙏

— Logan Wilson (@ljw21) January 3, 2023

Father, Damar is in Your hands! Please heal him from the top of his head to the bottom of his feet and everything in between.
Lord, please intervene!
Please heal Damar!
Please LORD! 🙏🏻

— Jill Kelly (@jillmkelly12) January 3, 2023

Wow. I am praying for you @HamlinIsland. Praying for health and safety.🙏🏾

— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) January 3, 2023

Praying fervently for Damar Hamlin, his family, loved ones, teammates, coaches, and entire NFL family. God’s purpose is perfect 🙏🏾

— Jonnu Smith (@Easymoney_81) January 3, 2023

Praying hard.. please be okay man. 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) January 3, 2023

Father God, I pray that Damar Hamlin is okay and here with us. I also ask that he have a speedy recovery mentally & physically God; in Jesus name… Amen🙏🏾

— SAUCE GARDNER (@iamSauceGardner) January 3, 2023

Lord, please place your protection over Hamlin tonight. May your strength and comfort be with everyone on that field. 🙏🏾

— Kelvin Beachum Jr (@KelvinBeachumJr) January 3, 2023

Demar Hamlin is a kind caring extremely hard worker. He is loyal honest and can always put a smile on your face. He is more than an athlete, he is a son and brother. I pray God gives him mercy and brings him back to us.

— Rodger Saffold (@Rodger_Saffold) January 3, 2023

Praying hard for Damar. What started as probably the most important game of his career has turned into a nightmare for everyone! Praying God covers him and his family

— Golden Tate (@ShowtimeTate) January 3, 2023

https://twitter.com/P2/status/1610103367833096192

In uncertain times remain hopeful. Praying hard for Damar Hamlin, his family, Bills community, and everyone who witnessed tonight. 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

— Bryant Young (@Bgr8t) January 3, 2023

Praying for Demar Hamilton 🙏🏾 In Jesus name

— Nicholas Williams (@NickWilliams_98) January 3, 2023

Praying for Damar Hamlin and his family.

— Kirk Cousins (@KirkCousins8) January 3, 2023

Prayers up.. 🙏🏽

— Justin Fields (@justnfields) January 3, 2023

God be wit D Hamlin right now!! 🙏

— Odell Beckham Jr (@obj) January 3, 2023

Lord please put a shield of protection over Damar Hamlin right now.

— DK (@DevonKennard) January 3, 2023

Praying for you D. Ham
🙏🏽 🙏🏽🙏🏽 PRAY PRAY PRAY ..

— Laquon Treadwell (@SuccessfulQuon) January 3, 2023

Prayers up for Damar Hamlin man 🙏🏾

— Derrick Brown (@DerrickBrownAU5) January 3, 2023

Prayers up for Damar…

— Trevor Lawrence (@Trevorlawrencee) January 3, 2023

Prayers sent up 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

— Tyrie Cleveland (@Tyrie_1) January 3, 2023

Sending my prayers to Damar and his family! 🙏🏾🙏🏾

— Raheem Mostert (@RMos_8Ball) January 3, 2023

My prayers are with Demar Hamlin and his family! 🙏🏾

— Kevin Byard (@KevinByard) January 3, 2023

Prayers up 🙏

— Travis Etienne Jr⁶𓅓 (@swaggy_t1) January 3, 2023

The power of PRAYER is REAL 🙏

— Matt Overton (@MattOverton_LS) January 3, 2023

Praying for you @HamlinIsland !! 🙏🏽

— Dane Cruikshank (@Dane2Smoove) January 3, 2023

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Baseball Football

Demi-Leigh & Tim Tebow welcome 1st child, Daphne Reign Tebow: ‘our answered prayer’

By Kevin Mercer Jul 10, 2025

Demi-Leigh and Tim Tebow look at their daughter, Daphne (Photo courtesy of Instagram/@demitebow).

In his 37 years on earth, Tim Tebow has worn many hats: NFL player, Heisman Trophy winner, national champion, College Football Hall of Famer, pro baseball player, author, speaker, producer, television personality, philanthropist.

Now, Tebow can add one more title, and it’s perhaps his most cherished: father.

>> Subscribe to Sports Spectrum Magazine for more stories where sports and faith connect <<

Tebow and his wife, Demi-Leigh, joyfully announced in an Instagram post that they welcomed their first child, Daphne Reign Tebow, into the world on Sunday.

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A post shared by Demi-Leigh Tebow (@demitebow)

In a follow-up post revealing their daughter’s name, Demi-Leigh shared the importance of the names Daphne and Reign. Daphne was her great aunt’s name, a woman who served as a grandmother figure to Demi-Leigh growing up. Meanwhile, Reign has spiritual significance.

“[Reign is] inspired by a precious little girl Tim and I have loved deeply for years,” she wrote. “Her story has shaped our hearts in ways I can’t even begin to explain. But more than anything, her name reminds us that when you’re adopted into God’s family, you become a child of the King. You were made to rule and reign — not in power, but in purpose, love, and identity.

“So here she is — our daughter. Our answered prayer. Daphne Reign Tebow — created in the image of God. Royalty as His princess. Our biggest prayer over her is to reign in God’s purpose for her life.”

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A post shared by Demi-Leigh Tebow (@demitebow)

As one of the most outspoken followers of Christ in modern sports history, Tim began to post about the image of God on his Instagram and X accounts in the wake of Daphne’s birth, possibly inspired by the image of God he now holds in his hands.

“If [the term ‘son of God’ is] used throughout history as a term for kings and for monarchs, then it is a term for royalty,” Tebow explained in a clip of one of the many sermons he’s delivered, which he posted on X on Wednesday. “What if our God loves you so much that when He says you were made in His image, He’s saying, ‘I love you so much that I see you as royalty.’?”

For most of history, the phrase “made in the image of” was reserved for kings and monarchs. But in Genesis, God gives that title to all of us. Think about that…

The God of the universe looks at you and says: “I see you with royal worth.” Not because of what you’ve done, but… pic.twitter.com/gqmeCtD4uM

— Tim Tebow (@TimTebow) July 9, 2025

“I used to think being made in God’s image was just a label we wore. But it’s so much more than that,” Tebow wrote in another post. “You are His image, part of His design, part of His story. That truth changes everything. Your worth isn’t something you wear. It’s who you are.”

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A post shared by Tim Tebow (@timtebow)

Tebow first rose to prominence as a college football player at Florida from 2006-2009, becoming a media sensation for frequently sharing publicly about his faith in Christ. With the Gators, he won two national championships (2006, 08) and the 2007 Heisman Trophy. The Denver Broncos drafted him No. 25 overall in 2010, and he spent two seasons with the franchise. Primarily a backup as a rookie, Tebow became the team’s starter in 2011. He helped turn that season around as the Broncos advanced to the postseason and won a playoff game. He was traded to the Jets that offseason and was released after a year in New York.

In 2016, Tebow announced that he would pursue a career as a professional baseball player. Despite not playing organized baseball since his junior year of high school, Tebow impressed scouts enough that the New York Mets signed him to a minor-league deal. He played in the Mets’ minor-league system before formally announcing his retirement from baseball in February 2021.

When his former college football coach, Urban Meyer, was hired by the Jacksonville Jaguars ahead of the 2021 season, Tebow signed a one-year contract with the team. His brief attempt to return to the NFL as a tight end came to a close when he was released in the preseason.

Tebow’s days tossing touchdowns and hammering home runs may have passed, but his days changing diapers and singing lullabies have just begun. He’s proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus Christ with millions watching around the world, and he’s trusted his Heavenly Father to equip him with the words to speak at those times. Now as a father — a role he’s never had before — he will trust his Heavenly Father to guide him, just as He’s always done.

>> Do you know Christ personally? Learn how you can commit your life to Him. <<

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Football

Patriots rookies TreVeyon Henderson, Gee Scott Jr. sharing their faith and serving others

By Joshua Doering Jul 8, 2025

Patriots rookie TreVeyon Henderson teaches kids about the Bible at a youth football camp (Photo courtesy X/@accessthewalk).

Former Ohio State Buckeyes TreVeyon Henderson and Gee Scott Jr. are looking forward to their first NFL training camp with the New England Patriots later this month, where they will prepare to make an immediate impact on the field this fall. Yet they haven’t waited until September to make an impact in the Massachusetts community they now call home, or in the Ohio community that molded them into who they are.

Both players provided spiritual leadership for the Buckeyes’ faith-fueled national championship team and have continued to find ample opportunities to share their faith in Christ since joining the Patriots.

>> Subscribe to Sports Spectrum Magazine for more stories where sports and faith connect <<

Scott — a tight end who signed with New England as an undrafted free agent — and three of his Patriots teammates joined community members and police officers at a Faith Night hosted by Bethel AME Church in Boston on May 30. Three weeks later, Scott and Henderson (a running back and the No. 38 overall pick) were both guest speakers at a “Revival” worship night organized by the Duxbury High School Bible Club, about an hour southeast of Boston. The players closed the night by delivering powerful testimonies of faith in Christ to a crowd of more than 400.

Their community outreach has extended outside the Boston area as well. The week after the Duxbury event, Henderson was at Storyside Church in Bellville, Ohio, where he reportedly declined an appearance fee. His reason? “My salvation is free and so am I.”

Prior to his final season at Ohio State last August, Henderson was a guest on the Sports Spectrum Podcast. He shared in the episode how he came to faith in college and why he choose to return for one more year rather than enter the 2024 NFL Draft.

“When I met Jesus, He filled me with the love that I’d been looking for in football and money and my family and women,” the three-time All-Big Ten selection said on the podcast. “He gave me the joy that I’d been searching for. … He filled me with happiness that I was looking for. What my heart was craving, what me heart needed — Jesus, He filled me with it. He gave it to me.”

Meanwhile, Scott joined the “What’s Up” podcast, part of the Sports Spectrum Podcast Network, in December. He discussed the ways his faith helps him handle the pressure and expectations that come with being a high-level athlete.

“I have a faith that all of these things that I’m going through are working together to refine me and make me a better version of myself,” he said on the podcast. “Having faith through that gives me freeing peace while I play that I’m not here to perform for man or for fans.”

The two friends and teammates reunited once again on Thursday to host a youth football camp in Mansfield, Ohio, in partnership with The Walk Foundation, an organization focused on spiritual outreach through sports.

Smiles & Bibles ✝️

Former Ohio State and New England Patriots rookies TreVeyon Henderson & Gee Scott Jr. held a youth football camp for the kids of Mansfield, Ohio. pic.twitter.com/FEQUbQgw7f

— The Walk (@accessthewalk) July 4, 2025

Both Henderson and Scott are also extremely active in sharing their faith on social media. Henderson declares that “Jesus saved my life” on both his Instagram and X accounts, while Scott describes himself as a “follower of Christ” on X and writes that, “I know who I am because I know Whose I am” on Instagram.

Henderson included a Bible verse from Acts in his Instagram post celebrating his selection by the Patriots.

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A post shared by TreVeyon Henderson (@trey.h.4)

While Scott was training, traveling around proclaiming the Gospel, and settling into life as a Patriot, he was also in the midst of planning another significant life event. Over the Fourth of July weekend, he proposed to his girlfriend, Olivia. Scott gave glory to God and cited Matthew 19:6 in his Instagram post celebrating the engagement.

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A post shared by Gee Scott Jr. (@geescottjr)

As he gets ready to compete for a spot on New England’s roster, Scott will continue to draw strength from the Lord.

“I just believe if I have God with me, that is my strength,” he said on the “What’s Up” podcast. “I’m usually not the one that’s doing a whole bunch of pumping up because I just know the strength that God gives me is enough.”

Henderson’s place on the team may be more secure as New England’s second-round pick, and he knows he is playing for God’s glory and wants to utilize his platform as much as possible.

“I’m just going to continue to let Him guide me and work through me for His glory,” Henderson said on the Sports Spectrum Podcast. “I want to continue to decrease. When people see me, I want them to see the Lord. I want them to see His power to save, to transform. I just want to let His light shine through me.”

The Patriots begin training camp on July 23. New England’s first preseason game is against the Washington Commanders on Aug. 8, and it hosts the Las Vegas Raiders in its regular season opener on Sept. 7.

>> Do you know Christ personally? Learn how you can commit your life to Him. <<

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Football

Texans QB C.J. Stroud pays for Houston youth to attend church camp: ‘It means the world’

By Kevin Mercer Jul 2, 2025

Houston Texans QB C.J. Stroud smiles on the practice field, May 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Texans superstar quarterback C.J. Stroud regularly gives back to the people of Houston on Sundays in the fall with his spectacular plays and record-breaking performances. Yet even in the NFL offseason, when the spotlight on his life retreats for a time, Stroud still finds ways to give back to the city that has embraced him as its own.

Most recently, the youth at Space City Church were the beneficiaries of the third-year quarterback’s generosity.

>> Subscribe to Sports Spectrum Magazine for more stories where sports and faith connect <<

Some of the kids at Space City Church were in need of financial assistance to attend a church camp in Waxahachie, Texas, later this week, so pastor Vaughaligan Walwyn decided to reach out for some help. He typed up an email to the C.J. Stroud Foundation, and not only was it answered, it was answered with a promise that the fees for seven kids (the same as Stroud’s jersey number) would be fully covered.

“It means the world,” Walwyn, affectionately known as Pastor Von Won, told KPRC 2 in Houston last week. “For C.J. and his foundation to pay those fees and help us in any capacity, it’s a blessing. It can be a big pressure sometimes, and the last thing we want is a parent stressing out. Church camp impacted my life in a huge way.

“Ultimately, it’s a blessing to see the C.J. Stroud Foundation help us. We seek God to work through them and give us the fuel we need for ministry.”

This story really started last September, however, when Texans team chaplain Mikado Hinson invited Pastor Von Won to speak at the team’s chapel service ahead of its Week 4 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Houston won the contest, 24-20, following Stroud’s game-winning touchdown pass with 18 seconds remaining.

Walwyn’s message from the night before hit home with Stroud, so much so that it was still on the mind of the 2023 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in his postgame press conference.

“[Pastor Von Won] was talking about, ‘You gotta go through the mud before you get to the miracle,'” Stroud said. “That resonated with me. Not only just in ball but just in life. It’s not always perfect but, you know, the mud makes you who you are. I think the mud we have is self-inflicted mud, but I feel like that kind of motivates us in a sense. It motivates me.”

Throughout the first two seasons of his career, Stroud has gained a reputation as one of the most outspoken followers of Christ in the NFL. He frequently and boldly mentions Jesus in postgame interviews and press conferences, and he can often be spotted praying on the field. He describes himself as a “Child of Jesus Christ” on Instagram.

Last August, in the lead-up to his second professional season, Stroud joined the Sports Spectrum Podcast to discuss his identity in Christ and his boldness to speak His name publicly.

“People will assume that since I proclaimed Christ that I’m perfect,” he said on the podcast. “I am far from it, and we all are. We all are striving to be more Christlike. … I’m flawed just like everybody else, but I do believe in the perfect One. And He’s the One who keeps me humble. He’s the One who gave me my talents and He will get the glory for it right back.”

In January, he said his goal for 2025 had nothing to do with football.

“Really just locking back in with the Lord. … That’s really my 2025 goal,” he said. “It’s just to be locked in with the Lord as much as possible. Fasting and praying, being a part of getting discipled.”

Stroud has quickly endeared himself to the people of Houston with his leadership, his play on the field, and his community involvement off of it. As millions of adoring fans look on, Stroud will seek to continue to live boldly for Christ and bring glory to Him.

>> Do you know Christ personally? Learn how you can commit your life to Him. <<

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Football Sports Spectrum Podcast

SS PODCAST: Jared Allen on his Jesus story, being inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame

By Sports Spectrum Jul 1, 2025

Jared Allen in 2022. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

THIS IS THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST WITH JASON ROMANO, FEATURING JARED ALLEN

Jared Allen played 12 NFL seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers. He was selected in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft by Kansas City. Over his career, Allen led the NFL in sacks twice (2007, 2011), was named to five Pro Bowls, and was selected as an AP first-team All-Pro four times. After his retirement in 2016, he was named to the Vikings Ring of Honor, and in 2025 was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Today on the podcast, Jared Allen speaks to Jason Romano at the Arise with the Guys event in Minneapolis, where Tony Dungy named Allen his Uncommon Award winner of 2025. We ask Jared about being elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, his testimony of faith in Jesus, and playing with Matt Forte in his short stint with the Bears.

>>Do you know Christ personally? Learn how you can commit your life to Him. <<

In the 12 seasons of his NFL career, Jared Allen was selected first-team All-Pro four times. He’s now Pro Football Hall of Famer No. 380! @Vikings | @visualedgeit | #PFHOF25 pic.twitter.com/aKlnMzaa01

— Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) February 7, 2025