NFL Players are Kneéling Again: This Time in Prayer, not Protest.

The National Football League was rocked to its core last week when Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest on the field after taking a hit to the chest on Monday Night Football.

Since then, players and league staff have continued to offer support and prayers for young Hamlin as he recovers from his injury.

Now, Hamlin’s injury has led to NFL players kneeling before games, as they have in recent years, but players no longer protest the national anthem. As the Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars were about to begin their final regular season game, both teams met at midfield and knelt in prayer to give thanks for Damar Hamlin’s miraculous recovery and continued improvement.

#LoveForDamar 🫶 pic.twitter.com/cLnXqYuVwZ

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) January 8, 2023

When the Denver Broncos played the Los Angeles Chargers, another tearful moment occurred. Quarterback Russell Wilson and safety Derwin James, who both wear the number three for their teams, met at the 50-yard line to share a moment of prayer as they knelt in silence holding hands.

Among many other similar actions across the NFL, players from the Raiders and Chiefs also met at center field to kneel in prayer after their game. That trend continued across the league this weekend.

Damar Hamlin was also very outspoken and forthright about his love for God and the ongoing importance his faith plays in his daily life. He thanked fans and opponents alike for joining in prayer in multiple tweets since his injury Monday night.