Damar Hamlin, a starting safety for the Bills who's formerly of Pitt, Pittsburgh Central Catholic High School and McKees Rocks, has been intubated and was listed in critical condition at University of Cincinnati Medical Center after he suffered cardiac arrest from making a tackle in Buffalo's game Monday night at PayCor Stadium.
On the first-quarter play, Hamlin made a tackle on the Bengals' Tee Higgins, rose to his feet, appeared dazed, and collapsed with his head slamming off the ground.
The Bills issued an update at 1:48 a.m. Tuesday that Hamlin had suffered cardiac arrest as a result of the hit and that his heartbeat had to be restored on the field:
Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest following a hit in our game versus the Bengals. His heartbeat was restored on the field and he was transferred to the UC Medical Center for further testing and treatment. He is currently sedated and listed in critical condition.
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 3, 2023
Hamlin spent nearly a half-hour on the ground as medical professionals utilized an AED and administered CPR to him for a period of time. Both teams' coaching staffs agreed to go back to their locker rooms, and just after 10 p.m., it was announced the game would be postponed:
— NFL (@NFL) January 3, 2023
The Bills and Bengals have both left the field and the game has temporarily been suspended. pic.twitter.com/pb4QZPgHtn
— ESPN (@espn) January 3, 2023
Nearly one hour after the play occurred, Tricia Macke of FOX 19 in Cincinnati reported Hamlin, 24, was intubated at UC Medical Center and was listed in critical condition. The hit occurred at 8:55 p.m., and he was taken off the field in an ambulance around 9:25 p.m.
Hamlin's vitals were restored Monday night at the hospital, according to a tweet from Jordon Rooney, Hamlin's marketing representative:
Update on Damar:
— Jordon Rooney (@jordonr) January 3, 2023
His vitals are back to normal and they have put him to sleep to put a breathing tube down his throat. They are currently running tests.
We will provide updates as we have them.
Per FOX 19's Joe Danneman, Hamlin had a pulse but was not breathing on his own as he was taken off of the field.
Players from either side were visibly upset with many moved to tears while Hamlin was being attended to, amid a chilling and gut-wrenching scene in front of a silent Cincinnati crowd.
Hamlin was drafted by Buffalo in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He has played in 15 games this season, making 91 total tackles — six for a loss — defending two passes and forcing a fumble.
Hamlin has gathered tremendous support from not only Buffalo, Cincinnati and Pitt fans, but from the rest of the sports world. Hamlin organized a community toy drive through his Chasing M's Foundation to benefit children and families which have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The toy drive has a goal of $2,500 set, but those totals have exceeded that exponentially since the incident occurred in Cincinnati.
As of the latest update to this story, Hamlin's toy drive has eclipsed $3 million raised. More information on that can be found HERE.
And, of course, his former Pitt brethren tweeted their thoughts and prayers to their former teammate:
Damar Hamlin is the best of us.
— Pitt Football (@Pitt_FB) January 3, 2023
We love you, 3. Praying for you. pic.twitter.com/fYymfFsynp
🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽@HamlinIsland 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
— Pat Narduzzi (@CoachDuzzPittFB) January 3, 2023
God got you 3 I promise you 🥺🥺🥺
— Marquis Williams (@wiliamsisland14) January 3, 2023
Praying for you big bro 3️⃣🙏🏾
— Brandon Hill (@brandonhill_6) January 3, 2023
🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
— Marlin Jr❇️ (@Mjdevonshirejr) January 3, 2023
Please pray for @HamlinIsland. One of the best human beings I have ever had the honor of being with.
— Charlie Partridge (@CoachPartridge) January 3, 2023
Praying for you 3🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 @HamlinIsland
— Brandon George (@B_George06) January 3, 2023
Get better my boy, Praying for you 3 🙏🏿 @HamlinIsland
— Izzy GetsBusy (@IAbanikanda) January 3, 2023
Praying for you big bruh 🖤🙏🏾3️⃣
— Daniel Carter (@KING__CARTER5) January 3, 2023
Praying for you my brother @HamlinIsland 🙏🏾
— Deslin Alexandre (@_Deslin) January 3, 2023
And so did Pitt Athletic Director Heather Lyke:
Praying, praying hard for you @HamlinIsland and your family. We all love you. #H2P https://t.co/h4OKeNJ7z5
— Heather Lyke (@Pitt_LykeAD) January 3, 2023
And, so did the rest of the sports world. Here are several, beginning with his high school alma mater, from Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen, and from Higgins:
Central Catholic High School is praying for the well being of @HamlinIsland Damar Hamlin, ‘16 (@BuffaloBills ) and family.. May the Lord be with him and his family during this most difficult time.
— CENTRAL FOOTBALL (@PCC_FOOTBALL) January 3, 2023
Please pray for our brother.
— Josh Allen (@JoshAllenQB) January 3, 2023
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
We join the entire city of Pittsburgh in sending our thoughts and prayers to Damar Hamlin, his family and the Bills organization.
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) January 3, 2023
Praying for you, Damar 💛
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) January 3, 2023
We send our thoughts and prayers to Damar Hamlin, his family, and the @BuffaloBills 🙏 https://t.co/AC9O9U0h4J
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) January 3, 2023
Prayers for Hamlin 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 i hope everything is okay.
— Ryan Shazier (@RyanShazier) January 3, 2023
The game is not important.
— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) January 3, 2023
Damar Hamlin’s life is important.
Please be ok. Please.
🙏🏼
Praying for Damar Hamlin…the entire world is lifting this young man up.
— Larry Fitzgerald (@LarryFitzgerald) January 3, 2023
Love you 3 prayers 🙏🏾🙏🏾❤️ stay strong got your back always
— Tyler Boyd (@boutdat_23) January 3, 2023
Join me in praying for complete healing for this young man. #H2P https://t.co/CgRAhQcclo
— Tony Dorsett (@Tony_Dorsett) January 3, 2023
This story will be updated as more information is released.
This story was posted at 9:30 p.m. on Jan. 2, and was most recently updated at 1:59 a.m. Jan. 3.
