The on-field collapse of Buffalo Bills defender Damar Hamlin during “Monday Night Football” should serve as a reminder that life is important and may change in an instant, according to retired Super Bowl winner Benjamin Watson.
Hamlin’s unexpected collapse and heart arrest during Monday’s game against Cincinnati surprised the crowd.
Despite the fact that the 24-year-old is still in a hospital and is in serious condition, the Bills said on Thursday that he had “shown remarkable improvement over the past 24 hours.”
Watson said in a CNN interview on Wednesday that the sudden heart failure of a professional athlete in the prime of his career serves as a sad reminder of how short life is.
He said to broadcaster Anderson Cooper, “These times bring us face-to-face with our own mortality. We all have a day to be born, and we all have a day to die.”
The former New England Patriots tight end expressed his hope that the tragedy will prompt others who saw the frightening incident to consider life after death.
Watson said: “On the flip side with such a tragic event, there is tremendous opportunity.”
“Part of my prayers right now, Anderson, is for the players in both of those locker rooms, for the chaplains who I know very well — who are right now counseling and comforting players who saw a brother in a near-death experience and who is still fighting for his life — because the questions about what happens after this life, where will you spend eternity … are coming up for all of us, not just for the football players.
“But thank God that he provides an answer through his son, Jesus Christ.”
Life can change in the blink of an eye. Damar’s injury has made us all wrestle with this truth. It has served as a reminder of own mortality. While we pray for him as he fights for his life we must ask ourselves where will we spend eternity? Thanks for this convo @andersoncooper pic.twitter.com/WrYQWNZ4hR
— Benjamin Watson (@BenjaminSWatson) January 5, 2023
It is astounding that a message like this could have been broadcast on liberal CNN at a time when mocking Christianity is normal and acceptable.
Watson, a pro-life campaigner who calls himself “an outspoken Christian,” received a lot of positive feedback on Twitter for sharing his religious views.
According to some Twitter commenters who agreed with Watson, this tragic event has rekindled conversations about God.
Players from both teams could be seen praying for Hamlin while CPR was being done to him on live television.
While administering CPR to Damar Hamlin, you can see the Buffalo Bills circled around crying and praying for him. Please pray for Damar Hamlin. #NFL #hamlin pic.twitter.com/39ywpzKFGP
— BILLSMAFIA(12-3) (@NflNews05) January 3, 2023
Please don’t share the video of the Damar Hamlin play. Share this because we are all Praying for him and his family. pic.twitter.com/QnO7DpAo7u
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) January 3, 2023
The act of faith was witnessed by millions of people: The most watched ESPN broadcast in company history was “Monday Night Football,” which featured Hamlin’s first-quarter meltdown.