NFL players, teams react after Damar Hamlin collapses during Monday Night Football
Jan 3, 2023, 11:13 AM
(Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
NFL players and teams shared their support of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin after he collapsed on the field following a hit on Monday Night Football.
The Cincinnati Bengals hosted the Bills in Week 17 on Monday, January 2.
With 6:12 remaining in the opening quarter, Hamlin tackled Tee Higgins and stood up before collapsing to the turf. After falling to the ground, Hamlin reportedly received CPR on the field before leaving the stadium in an ambulance.
Following the ambulance’s departure from the field, the game was temporarily suspended and both teams returned to the locker room.
A short time later, the game was officially postponed. On Tuesday, the NFL said it will not resume the game this week.
“The NFL has made no decision regarding the possible resumption of the game at a later date,” the NFL said in a press release.
— 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
Current and former players, as well as teams from around the league, shared their support of Hamlin amid the scary situation.
NFL players & teams react after Damar Hamlin collapses
The thoughts and prayers of all of Bills Mafia are supporting you, Damar. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/lDWNAOEPX4
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 3, 2023
❤️💙 pic.twitter.com/yTZzQs0QAp
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 3, 2023
Our focus remains on Damar 🙏 pic.twitter.com/BUH0vcYQ4Q
— NFLPA (@NFLPA) January 3, 2023
Prayers up for Hamlin!! Speechless 🙏🏽🙏🏽
— Marcus Williams (@MarcusWilliams) January 3, 2023
Prayers for Hamlin 🙏🏽🙏🏽
— 🇼🇸jay Tufele🇦🇸 (@tufele123) January 3, 2023
Praying for you Damar! Please be okay!
— Matt Gay 🎱 (@MGtweetymonster) January 3, 2023
Damar 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
— ZMO✝️ (@PresMoss2) January 3, 2023
🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 3️⃣
— Tim Patrick (@Tpstreets) January 3, 2023
Heavenly Father
Please find it in your will to heal Damar Hamlin from whatever is causing his injuries. Protect him from any further harm. Please Lord, allow him to go home to his family. Healthy Father God. In Jesus name Amen
— Robert “Turbo” Turbin (@RobertJTurbin) January 3, 2023
Our thoughts and prayers are with Damar Hamlin 🙏
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) January 3, 2023
Prayers up for @HamlinIsland and the Bills 🙏🙏 https://t.co/bldIhUzgyF
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) January 3, 2023
Sending our prayers to Damar Hamlin and his family 🙏🖤
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) January 3, 2023
Praying for Damar Hamlin and the entire Buffalo Bills organization 💙 https://t.co/BPwZFj7Tqx
— New York Giants (@Giants) January 3, 2023
Sending our thoughts and prayers to Damar Hamlin, his family and the @BuffaloBills 🙏
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) January 3, 2023
Our thoughts are with @HamlinIsland and the entire @BuffaloBills organization. https://t.co/LxBPbqLjzo
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) January 3, 2023
Our thoughts and prayers are with Damar Hamlin and the Bills. 🧡 https://t.co/ZyLbQU2BI1
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) January 3, 2023
Coach Tomlin shares his very personal thoughts on Damar Hamlin: pic.twitter.com/gymuijitfp
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) January 3, 2023
We offer our prayers and well wishes to Damar Hamlin and his family.
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) January 3, 2023
Sending our prayers to Damar Hamlin and the @BuffaloBills 🙏💛
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) January 3, 2023
Prayers for Bills safety Damar Hamlin, his family and loved ones. 🙏 — Ben.
— BigBen7.com (@_BigBen7) January 3, 2023
Praying for Damar Hamlin…the entire world is lifting this young man up.
— Larry Fitzgerald (@LarryFitzgerald) January 3, 2023
Prayer is POWERFUL … please pray for my PITT brother Damar Hamlin 🙏
— LeSean Shady Mccoy (@CutonDime25) January 3, 2023
Damar Hamlin collapses during Monday Night Football
Hamlin collapsed on the field and was administered CPR before being driven away in an ambulance during Monday night’s game against the Bengals.
Hamlin collided with Bengals receiver Tee Higgins after a completion. He got to his feet, appeared to adjust his face mask with his right hand, and then fell backward about three seconds later and lay motionless.
Hamlin was surrounded by stunned players from both teams, and when he was taken off the field 16 minutes later, the Bills gathered in prayer.
While medical personnel were gathered around Hamlin, his uniform was cut off and he appeared to be getting CPR. ESPN reported on its telecast that Hamlin was also given oxygen. He was strapped to a backboard and moved into the ambulance.
“No one’s been through this,” longtime NFL quarterback Troy Aikman said on the ESPN telecast. “I’ve never seen anything like it, either.”
Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field and was administered CPR before being driven away in an ambulance during Monday night's game against the Cincinnati Bengals.#NFL #DamarHamlin #MondayNightFootball https://t.co/anSfXYEAbQ
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 3, 2023
The game was suspended 21 minutes after the injury, and players walked off the field slowly.
The 24-year-old Hamlin spent five years of college at Pitt — his hometown — and appeared in 48 games for the Panthers over that span. He was a second-team All-ACC performer as a senior, was voted a team captain and was picked to play in the Senior Bowl.
He was drafted in the sixth round by the Bills in 2021, played in 14 games as a rookie and then became a starter this year once Micah Hyde was lost for the season to injury.
Entering the game, the 6-foot, 200-pound Hamlin had 91 tackles, including 63 solo tackles, and 1 1/2 sacks.
This story was first published by Kyle Ireland of KSL Sports, Sactown Sports‘ sister station. Follow Kyle on Twitter (@kyleireland) and Instagram (@kyleirelandksl).