Damar Hamlin: What we know and updates for Jan. 3

A Wednesday morning report said that Hamlin’s doctors saw “promising readings” in the ICU as he remains in critical condition. For the latest updates on Hamlin, click here.

CINCINNATI (WCMH) — The NFL and sports world was put on pause Monday night after Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the Paycor Stadium field in Cincinnati during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Hamlin tackled Bengals receiver Tee Higgins with just under six minutes left in the first quarter. He got up after the tackle before collapsing shortly after, laying motionless. Hamlin was down on the field for 19 minutes before an ambulance took him to UC Medical Center.

One hour later, the game was suspended for the night with the Bengals leading 7-3. The NFL confirmed Tuesday afternoon the game will not resume this week.

In an interview with CNN, Damar Hamlin’s uncle said that he was resuscitated twice: Once on the field last night, and once in the hospital, according to WLWT.

Hamlin is currently flipped over on his stomach to relieve pressure on his lungs. Doctors are trying to get him off a ventilator and breathing on his own.

Tuesday at 2 a.m., the Bills stated that Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest and had his heartbeat restored by medics through CPR. The team said around 1:30 p.m. that he spent last night in the intensive care unit and will stay there today in critical condition.

Just before noon, the Hamlin family’s spokesperson, Jordon Rooney, released a statement directly from the family. Rooney is the marketing representative for Damar. The statement reads:

On behalf of our family, we want to express our sincere gratitude for the love and support shown to Damar during this challenging time. We are deeply moved by the prayers, kind words, and donations from fans around the country.

We also want to acknowledge the dedicated first responders and healthcare professionals at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center who have provided exceptional care to Damar. We feel so blessed to be part of the Buffalo Bills organization and to have their support. We also want to thank Coach Taylor and the Bengals for everything they’ve done.

Your generosity and compassion mean the world to us. Please keep Damar in your prayers. We will release updates as soon as we have them.

Hamlin Family Statement

Long-time Bengals play-by-play announcer Dan Hoard said the minutes felt like hours, watching as medics revived Hamlin as the crowd of 60,000-plus fell silent.

“I certainly never expected to be describing CPR being performed on a football player during the course of a game,” Hoard said.

The game, he said, felt like a playoff game until the moment Hamlin’s collapse, when the energy was sapped out of the stadium.

“If this had to happen to somebody, there’s no better place for it to happen than on an NFL football field,” he said. “You’re surrounded by medical personnel, there’s an ambulance waiting, they’ve got the equipment to deal with cardiac arrest.”

Like the rest of the country, former NFL linebacker and current ESPN sideline analyst Rocky Boiman said no one could be prepared for what they saw Monday night.

“Large men traveling at high rates of speed, I don’t think it’s, obviously the hit and how it happened didn’t look malicious or intentful or anything like that,” said Rocky Boiman, a former NFL linebacker and current ESPN sideline analyst. “I’m not sure any rule changes or anything like that are needed. I think it was just a one-in-a-billion freak, unfortunate accident but just a reminder of how violent the game is.”

The 24-year-old from McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, was drafted in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Bills after four seasons with the University of Pittsburgh. He has played at least 14 games in each of his two NFL seasons.

NFL players, fans, media personalities, and more took to social media Monday night, sending best wishes and prayers to Hamlin. People also gathered online to donate to Hamlin’s toy drive fundraiser, “Chasing M’s,” where more than $4 million has been raised from more than 150,000 donations. The fundraiser goal was set at $2,500.

Thoughts towards Hamlin continued into Tuesday afternoon when Ohio Governor Mike DeWine started a press conference with a moment of silence. NFL teams also showed where its thoughts are with all 32 changing their Twitter profile pictures to Hamlin’s jersey number “3”, reading on top “Pray for Damar.”

In addition, the league also postponed Tuesday night’s announcement of the 15 modern-era finalists for the 2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame class to Wednesday evening.

Buffalo’s plane returned to western New York early Tuesday, shortly before 3 a.m. while Hamlin remained in Cincinnati for treatment. A heavy police presence and caution tape kept fans from surrounding the area when the Bills arrived.

The NFL said they have not made a decision regarding the possible resumption of the game. Both teams are scheduled to play Sunday in the final week of the regular season with the Bills set to host the Patriots and the Bengals scheduled to play the Ravens in Cincinnati.

The Bengals are one win away from clinching the AFC North title while the Bills are playing for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The NFL Playoffs are scheduled to begin on Jan. 14.

WIVB of Buffalo, New York, contributed to this report