Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest after a tackle during Monday night’s game, forcing the NFL to suspend a pivotal game against the Cincinnati Bengals that quickly lost meaning in the wake of a scary scene that played out in front of a nationally televised audience.
“Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest after a hit in our game against the Bengals. His heartbeat was restored on the field and he was transferred to UC Medical Center for further evaluation and treatment,” the Bills said in a statement released early Tuesday. “He is currently sedated and hospitalized in critical condition.”
Hamlin, 24, was resuscitated on the field, ESPN reported during the broadcast. Teammates surrounded Hamlin, shielding him from public view. Many were crying and praying as Hamlin was treated on the field by team and independent medical staff and local paramedics. He was taken by ambulance to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Teammate Stefon Diggs later went to visit Hamlin in the hospital as fans from both teams gathered outside, holding lit candles and praying.
WHAT HAPPENED TO HAMLIN?
Hamlin was injured when he tackled Bengals receiver Tee Higgins during a seemingly routine play that didn’t seem unusually violent.
Higgins ran with the ball on a 13-yard pass from Joe Burrow when he led with his right shoulder, hitting Hamlin in the chest. Hamlin then wrapped his arms around Higgins’ shoulders and helmet to drag him down. Hamlin stood up quickly, appeared to adjust his facemask with his right hand, and about three seconds later fell backward 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 on the field.
WHY DID IT TAKE SO LONG TO DELAY THE GAME?
It took the NFL about an hour after Hamlin collapsed to officially suspend the game, as league executives were gathering information and communicating with referee Shawn Smith, coaches for both teams and the NFL Players Association.
Troy Vincent, the league’s executive vice president of football operations, said the NFL’s emergency action plan had been activated. Vincent communicated with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and NFL Players Association Executive Director DeMaurice Smith. Dawn Aponte, the league’s chief football official, was at the game and interacted with Bills coach Sean McDermott and Bengals coach Zac Taylor and the umpire.
“It was fluid and things were changing by the minute,” said Vincent. “It was clear on the phone that emotions were very high. It was a very unstable situation.”
Vincent refuted ESPN’s broadcast report that both teams were given 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 a warm-up to resume play. That is ridiculous. That’s insensitive. That’s not a place we should ever be.
WHO IS HAMLIN?
Hamlin studied in Pittsburgh – his hometown – for five years and played in 48 games for the Panthers during that time. He was a second-team All-ACC performer as a senior, being voted team captain and selected to play in the Senior Bowl.
Drafted in the sixth round by the Bills in 2021, Hamlin played in 14 games as a rookie and became a starter this season after Micah Hyde was injured.
In 2020, Hamlin began hosting an annual Christmas toy drive in his hometown of McKees Rocks, Pa. As of Tuesday, a community toy drive organized by Hamlin had risen to more than $3.1 million in donations. His stated goal was $2,500.
Bills offensive lineman Rodger Saffold described Hamlin in a post on Twitter as a “kind, caring, extremely hard worker”. 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 a brother.”
WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE NFL?
The Bills-Bengals game has big implications for the playoffs. Both teams will compete for the AFC’s No. 1 seed. The Bills (12-3) took first place in the game while the Bengals (11-4) had a chance to clinch the AFC North with a win and were also in the mix for the No. 1 seed along with Kansas City (13-3).
The Bengals were leading 7–3 in the first quarter when the game was halted.
Jeff Miller, the NFL’s executive vice president of communications, public affairs and policy, said on a conference call shortly after midnight that no timetable for resuming play was being considered at the time.
“Our concern is for the player and his well-being. I’m sure we’ll have a conversation at the right time about the next steps regarding the game,” said Miller.
The NFL enters the last week of the regular season and the playoffs begin on January 14.
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Follow Rob Maaddi on Twitter at https://twitter.com/robmaaddi
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