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ESPN personality Scott Van Pelt Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

Ryan Clark, Scott Van Pelt praised for Damar Hamlin coverage

By Eric Smithling | Last updated 1/3/23

ESPN's Ryan Clark and Scott Van Pelt received praise for their thoughtful conversation on "SportsCenter" after the Bills-Bengals Monday night game was postponed due to Damar Hamlin's terrifying on-field incident.

"This isn't about a football player, this is about a human."@Realrclark25 spent time with @notthefakeSVP to offer support to Damar Hamlin. pic.twitter.com/fJT80Nz7kV
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 3, 2023

ESPN’s Ryan Clark on the football mindset: “You don’t make the club in the tub” and your best ability is “availability.” He said: “In truth, if the NFL cares about the players, this is the first time the NFL truly had to care about the players’ emotional and mental health.” #NFL
— Dwayne Bray (@DwayneBrayESPN) January 3, 2023

The Bills announced Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest, and the second-year pro was administered CPR on the field. As traumatic as it was for viewers at home, it's impossible to understand the fear that Hamlin's teammates and loved ones felt in those moments of heightened uncertainty.

Clark and Van Pelt led the discussion following the game's postponement, and the two men — under tough circumstances — handled the situation with the utmost delicacy and respect.

Fans were appreciative of the duo, with several praising them for leading a difficult conversation.

Really appreciate the compassion and perspective of Ryan Clark and Scott Van Pelt shared talking through this heartbreaking situation involving Damar Hamlin.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) January 3, 2023

Tonight is a night you really want thoughtful people on air. You want people who don't speculate. You want people with basic humanity. Lisa Salters, Booger McFarland, Ryan Clark, Joe Buck, Scott Van Pelt and pretty much everyone on ESPN so far has really done this tonight.
— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) January 3, 2023

Ryan Clark doing tremendous work on ESPN. Scott Van Pelt doing mature and solid work transitioning conversations as substantively as possible.
— Daniel Fienberg (@TheFienPrint) January 3, 2023

On "SportsCenter," Clark discussed his own terrifying medical episode after an October 2007 game in Denver. He was hospitalized and lost his gall bladder and spleen. On Tuesday morning, he delivered another important message to his followers on Twitter.

Sometimes no amount prayer or thought can calm the fear. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t keep praying. Take care y’all. It’s ok to be tired. It’s ok to lean on your people. Love on each other. Support one another. Be good to each other. All love
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) January 3, 2023

This was an unprecedented event for so many of the players and people covering the game, as well as people watching at home and in the stadium. There is no standard procedure for how people should act after witnessing a traumatic event, especially when so much is unknown in the immediate aftermath.

Clark and Van Pelt hit all the right notes in their coverage of a horrifying event. Operating without a playbook, they set the standard for how an event like this should be covered. We can only hope no one ever has to follow their path.

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