UPDATE (1:28 PM): The Bills have offered another update, tweeting Hamlin spent Monday night in the ICU at a University of Cincinnati Medical center. He remains there today.
UPDATE (11:45 AM): The Hamlin family has released the following statement.
UPDATE (7:27 AM): Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest after taking a hit to the chest Monday night. His heartbeat was restored on the field. He remains in critical condition.
UPDATE (11:24 PM): Damar Hamlin’s agent Ira Turner has issued a statement.
And a UC Hospital spokesperson says they don’t expect to make an update on Hamlin’s condition tonight, contradicting an earlier report.
UPDATE (10:39 PM): Per a tweet from Jordon Rooney, Hamlin’s friend and marketing representative, Hamlin’s vitals are “back to normal” and doctors are running additional tests.
Our original story is below.
An incredibly scary moment in tonight’s Monday night game between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals. Bills’ safety and Pittsburgh native Damar Hamlin was seriously injured in the first half after making a tackle, stretchered and taken off the field by ambulance. According to multiple reports, he was administered CPR while on the field for an extended period of time.
Hamlin initially made the tackle on WR Tee Higgins and got to his feet. But he fainted moments after and was on the ground until taken off on a stretcher. The game has been “temporary suspended” by the officiating crew with both teams heading back to the locker room. There was 5:58 left in the first quarter when Hamlin’s injury happened. It occurred at 8:55 PM in real time.
The NFL has not given official word if the game will continue later tonight but it’s extremely difficult to see this one played out.
UPDATE (10:01 PM): ESPN reports the Bills/Bengals game has officially been suspended and will not resume tonight. No makeup date has been announced but that is obviously secondary to Hamlin’s health.
The NFL has released the following statement on Hamlin, saying he is in “critical condition” at a nearby Cincinnati hospital.
UPDATE (12:35 AM): The NFL has no current plans as to when they will resume the Bills/Bengals game. The league made the announcement in a conference call early Tuesday morning, saying they will wait until there’s clarity on Hamlin’s health.
Hamlin, 24 years old and a sixth round pick of the Bills in 2021, is a Pittsburgh native. He attended Pittsburgh Central Catholic High School and as a top recruit, committed to the Pittsburgh Panthers to play his college ball. In school, he recorded 275 career tackles with six interceptions. But, of course, football is not the focus tonight. Not anymore.
He started against the Steelers earlier this year when Pittsburgh played Buffalo, making seven total tackles. After a questionable hit on a sliding Kenny Pickett, Mike Tomlin briefly spoke about Hamlin after the game.
“I love Hamlin. He’s a 412er. He plays hard. He’s a good kid.”
Pickett, a teammate of Hamlin at Pitt, said similar.
“I’m fine with Hammy, that’s one of my guys, he’ll be one of my friends for a long time, so we’re competing, it’s all good.”
Moments ago, Pickett sent out this message on Instagram for Hamlin.
For Steelers’ fans, this is reminiscent of Ryan Shazier’s career-ending spinal injury in 2017. That injury also occurred in Cincinnati, just as Hamlin’s injury did tonight. But based on the reporting, Hamlin’s injury seems even more serious as we await word on his condition. Bills’ players were understandably extremely upset with several players on the field crying as Hamlin was attended to.
An ambulance has taken Hamlin to the local hospital that has a Level One Trauma Center.
We’ll pass along any updates to you throughout the night and we’re sending our best to Hamlin, his family, and his Bills’ teammates.
The Steelers’ Twitter account sent its well-wishes to Hamlin and the Bills.
Several Steelers’ players have tweeted their thoughts and support to Hamlin tonight.
Hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations have been raised to a charity Hamlin sponsored, The Chasing M’s Foundation Community Toy Drive. If you would like to make a donation, you can do so by clicking the link here. It’s already raised well over $1 million.
