Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered one Cardiac arrest after a tackle during Monday night’s game, resulting in the NFL sitting out a crucial game against the Cincinnati Bengals that quickly faded from meaning after a scary scene played out in front of a national television audience.
“Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest after scoring in our game against the Bengals. His heartbeat was restored in the field and he was transferred to UC Medical Center for further testing and treatment,” the Bills said in a statement released early Tuesday. “He is currently sedated and in critical condition.”
Hamlin, 24, was administered CPR in the field, ESPN reported during the broadcast. Teammates surrounded Hamlin and shielded him from the public. Many wept and prayed as Hamlin was treated on the field by a team of independent medical staff and local paramedics. He was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center by ambulance. Teammate Stefon Diggs later visited Hamlin in hospital while fans of both teams gathered outside, holding lit candles and praying.
WHAT HAPPENED TO HAMLIN?
Hamlin was injured while tackling Bengals receiver Tee Higgins in what appeared to be a routine game that didn’t appear unusually violent.
Higgins ran with the ball on a 13-yard pass from Joe Burrow when he led with his right shoulder and hit Hamlin in the chest. Hamlin then wrapped his arms around Higgins’ shoulders and helmet to pull him down. Hamlin stood up quickly, seemed to be adjusting his face mask with his right hand, then fell back about three seconds later and lay motionless.
Hamlin was down for 19 minutes while receiving medical attention. WXIX-TV in Cincinnati reported that Hamlin required an automated external defibrillator (AED) in addition to CPR in the field.
WHAT TAKES SO LONG TO POSTPONE THE GAME?
It took the NFL about an hour after Hamlin’s collapse to officially suspend the game as league executives gathered information and communicated with umpire Shawn Smith, coaches from both teams and the NFL Players Association.
Troy Vincent, the league’s executive vice president of football operations, said the NFL’s contingency plan of action has been activated. Vincent spoke with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and DeMaurice Smith, Executive Director of the NFL Players Association. Dawn Aponte, the league’s head of football administration, was at the game and spoke with Bills coach Sean McDermott and Bengals coach Zac Taylor, as well as the referee.
“It was fluid and things changed by the minute,” Vincent said. “On the phone you noticed that the emotions were extremely high. It was a very volatile situation.”
Vincent refuted ESPN’s broadcast report that both teams were allowed a five-minute warm-up period to resume play.
“I’m not sure where that came from,” Vincent said. “It never occurred to us to talk about warming up to get the game back on. That’s ridiculous. That’s insensitive. This is not a place we should ever be.”
WHO IS HAMLIN?
Hamlin spent five years in college in Pittsburgh — his hometown — appearing in 48 games for the Panthers during that span. As a senior, he was a second-team All-ACC player, was elected team captain, and was selected to the Senior Bowl.
Hamlin, drafted in the sixth round by the Bills in 2021, played in 14 games as a rookie and then became a starter this season after Micah Hyde was injured.
In 2020, Hamlin began organizing an annual Christmas toy drive in his hometown of McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania. As of early Tuesday, a community toy drive organized by Hamlin had grown to raise more than $3.1 million in donations. His stated goal was $2,500.
Bills offensive lineman Rodger Saffold described Hamlin as a “kind, caring, extremely hard worker” in a post on Twitter. Saffold wrote that Hamlin was “loyal, honest and always able to put a smile on your face. He’s more than an athlete, he’s a son and brother.”
WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE NFL?
The Bills-Bengals game has a major impact on the playoffs. Both teams are fighting for the AFC No. The Bills (12-3) went into the game in first place while the Bengals (11-4) had a chance to win the AFC North with a win and along with Kansas City (13-3).
The Bengals were leading 7-3 in the first quarter when play was halted.
Jeff Miller, the NFL’s executive vice president of communications, public affairs and policy, said during a conference call just after midnight that a timeframe for the game to resume is not being considered at this time.
“Our concern is for the player and his well-being. I’m sure we’ll have a conversation about next steps regarding the game when the time comes,” Miller said.
The NFL is entering the final week of the regular season and the playoffs are scheduled to begin on January 14th.
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