Two NFL Players Are Also Nurses—and Their Message This Nurses Week Will Move You

As National Nurses Week 2026 begins today (running May 6-12), it’s the perfect time to reflect on the powerful and impactful, life-changing work of caregivers. Through a partnership between Mercy Ships,  a faith-based charity that operates floating hospitals in Africa, and the app Glorify, a new devotional series, “Strength in Service,” is launching to bring listeners the real stories of compassion lived out daily around the world. 

Mercy Ships’ compassionate mission is brought to life in Glorify’s 10-day audio series, where Patrick Hill and Chandler Brayboy — two professional football players who are also trained nurses — blend their expertise as elite athletes with their knowledge of hands-on caregiving.

Drawing from their own experiences and the inspiring work of Mercy Ships, the series explores resilience, compassion, and purpose in a way that resonates far beyond the football field. With its emphasis on serving others and finding meaning in everyday moments, “Strength in Service” is a compelling listen for anyone seeking encouragement and serves as a meaningful tribute to the nurses and caregivers who show up with strength and heart every single day.

From the football field to the hospital room

For wide receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Chandler Brayboy, he became a nurse after he learned in a health science class about a specific symptom of Parkinson’s disease. He recognized that his grandfather struggled with the symptom, and he was later diagnosed. He always knew he wanted to do something to help others, so from then on, he set his sights on nursing. “People trusting me in vulnerable times, and learning from patients and listening to them talk is what made me fall in love with the profession,” he says.

As for Patrick, who is now a retired fullback from the Tennessee Titans and spends all his time nursing or with his family, he started as a pre-med major in college, which allowed him hands-on experience at the bedside of patients. Getting to physically see the difference he was making in people’s lives was so rewarding. After having the chance to advocate for a specific patient, he realized this job was his calling, and he was right where God wanted him to be.

Redefining ‘Strength in Service’

Patrick and Chandler explain that a powerful shift took place in how they understand strength once they discovered how much was required of them in a hospital room, and not just on the football field. Patrick explains, “I went from really thinking that I needed to be heard or seen all the time, and now, I feel a lot of strength in really listening. I find strength in really hearing someone and validating their feelings.” 

Chandler echoes that shift in perspective. “Strength in football is what a scoreboard says, but in the nursing field, it’s holding somebody’s hand. I always felt more satisfaction from that than making a huge play.” 

Their faith moves differently in each space but remains constant at the core. Chandler shares, “Football is never really quiet. Your actions will speak louder in football, and your words speak louder in the medical field.” 

Patrick adds that while prayers on the field often focus on performance, in caregiving they become deeply personal: “I’m praying, ‘Give me strength to really affect this person in a way that they may need it.’ Let’s not treat a diagnosis. Let’s treat a person.”

The footballers’ tips for an active prayer life

When it comes to prayer, both men emphasize that connection with God doesn’t require perfection or a rigid routine, but simply being open to whatever God has in store. 

“I would say that prayer is more of a communication or just talking with God,” Chandler says. “It doesn’t have to be perfect; it’s just you talking.” He encourages people to release pressure and start wherever they are: “You’re not going to feel connected with a person unless you talk to that person.” 

Patrick builds on that with a practical approach for people spinning lots of plates. “I don’t think that there’s a right or wrong time, right or wrong place. Prayer can start off very small, like, ‘Thank you, Lord.’” Over time, those small moments can grow into something deeper, he explains, “Those one liners turn into two liners, which turns into two minutes. That small prayer moment can be so valuable.”

Practical ways to avoid caregiver burnout

Even the strongest caregivers have to take time to care for themselves to sidestep feeling burned out. For caregivers, the duo advises staying grounded in both honesty and grace. 

“The biggest advice I would give to help avoid burnout is figure out your own stressors and triggers,” says Patrick, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness. “Find whatever your trigger is and do whatever helps you get past that in the moment and be gentle with yourself.” 

He also reminds caregivers to anchor themselves in faith during difficult seasons. “Trusting God and His plan and His purpose even while you’re in the storm, there is a way out, but there’s a way through, and the way through is to walk with him.” 

Meanwhile, Chandler adds the importance of staying humble and seeking out the right kind of support. “You’re not a professional at it,” he encourages. “So just being easy on yourself is important. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.”

Ultimately, both men hope the 10-day “Strength in Service” series leaves listeners feeling renewed and purposeful. Patrick says, “My biggest hope is that listeners realize that it’s not a one-time thing. They can draw strength from this series at any time. Whether you have two seconds or you have 20 minutes, this series will teach you to really connect and reground yourself and find your own strength.” 

Chandler adds that he hopes listeners will find hope from it. “The devotional series helps you understand that nobody’s got it figured out. Maybe someone can get the motivation to take an extra step to find out what their purpose might be.” 

Additional resources, including accessing the series, Mercy Ships volunteer and patient stories and ways to get involved, are available at glorify-app.com/mercyships.