During Monday Night Football in Cincinnati, one of the most frightening on-field incidents ever occurred when Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed. Medical professionals immediately began performing CPR and quickly placed him into an ambulance that rushed him to a nearby hospital.
On Monday night, the Bills released a statement announcing that 24-year-old Hamlin is in critical condition after suffering cardiac arrest.
“His vitals are back to normal and they have put him to sleep to put a breathing tube down his throat,” Jordon Rooney, Hamlin’s marketing representative at Jaster Athletes, said on Twitter. “They are currently running tests. We will provide updates as we have them.”
The hospital spokesperson abruptly canceled a press conference meant to take place at 11pm Monday, as per multiple news sources. Ira Turner of Agency 1 Sports representing Damar Hamlin released an urgent plea for prayers – asking all individuals to “please continue to pray for Damar and his family.”
In an urgent circumstance, Hamlin and his observing mother were rushed two miles to the University of Cincinnati Level I trauma center. This reaction began a half-hour after the initial tackle by Hamlin on Bengals receiver Tee Higgins when he seemed to take most of the hit’s impact. The speedy response was due to this being seen as a life-threatening emergency situation.
Hamlin jumped up and adjusted his facemask, but quickly collapsed onto the ground.
Many prayers needed for this player, Damar Hamlin, from Buffalo Bills who collapsed, after 9 Min of CPR was transported from the field to the hospital, in critical condition, game postponed, please Lord lift this young man in prayer to heal… pic.twitter.com/0ptbV0ODWN
— Diane (@ladyfishrn11) January 3, 2023
“Something we haven’t seen in our time,” said NFL executive vice president Troy Vincent. He reported that numerous individuals on the site were noticeably “traumatized.”
Everyone in the stadium and watching from home waited with bated breath for a sign that it would be alright—a thumbs-up gesture by an NFL player being carried away on a stretcher, even if they were visibly paralyzed. But instead of hope, all we got was silence.
After the Cincinnati Bengals accumulated a 7-3 lead, there was a delay of more than an hour before action resumed. ESPN reported that players were given five minutes to warm up prior to returning back onto the field, but NFL executive Troy Vincent proclaimed this scenario was never mentioned in conversations with Roger Goodell who felt “devastated” about the occurrence.
“Never crossed my mind to talk about warming up to resume play,” Vincent stated. “That’s ridiculous, insensitive, and not a place we should ever be in.”
Vincent declared that the Bills were due to board a plane home on Tuesday morning, however, some players wanted to stay nearby Hamlin.
“The thoughts and prayers of all of Bills Mafia are supporting you, Damar,” the Bills tweeted on their official account.
Hundreds of NFL players, including Hamlin’s former teammates from Buffalo and the University of Pittsburgh, took to social media to offer prayers for his recovery.
“Damar Hamlin is the best of us,” Pitt football wrote. “We love you, 3. Praying for you.”
Medical personnel swiftly attended to Hamlin as players somberly gathered around him. Some onlookers folded into tears, while others choked back emotion and covered their faces with towels. The Bills coalesced in a solemn circle around McDermott before the ambulance departed from midfield after saying one last prayer together.
Hamlin in ambulance and heading to hospital as Bills pray pic.twitter.com/xGwbd2yip1
— Jay Morrison (@JayMorrisonATH) January 3, 2023
Bills quarterback Josh Allen, with cupped hands in prayer and a hug for Joe Burrow, demonstrated the unity among players from both teams. They even formed an impenetrable wall to guard Hamlin’s privacy as he grappled through his toughest moment.
Vincent praised the wise decision of Bengals coach Zac Taylor and Bills coach Sean McDermott, who both prevented their squads from participating in such an emotionally charged situation. A standing ovation then echoed across the stadium as a sign of admiration for Buffalo’s players, before they all headed back to their locker rooms.
NFL executives chose to remain silent when asked for a plan on the resumption of the game between two teams vigorously competing for the top ranking in the AFC, out of respect for Hamlin’s current health status.
Blue lights on at Paycor for Damar Hamlin and the Bills family pic.twitter.com/hSFtn6mKah
— Jay Morrison (@JayMorrisonATH) January 3, 2023