Too often, it takes times of tragedy and unspeakable suffering for forces to unite. The NFL is hoping that isn’t the case following the medical emergency Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered during Monday night’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Hamlin, 24, collapsed in the first quarter of Monday night’s game after making a hit on Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins.
First responders provided CPR on the field before Hamlin was transported to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. The Bills announced early Tuesday morning that Hamlin went into cardiac arrest before his heartbeat was restored. He remains in ICU and is listed in critical condition.
As the NFL world grapples with the reality of what happened Monday night inside Cincinnati’s Paycor Stadium, its 32 teams are joining forces to show their support for Hamlin.
This includes the social media accounts of each team in the league changing their avatars to photos with “PRAY FOR DAMAR” and his No. 3 jersey. Here’s a few examples.
The league announced on Tuesday that the Bills-Bengals game will not resume this week. There’s no telling what’s going to happen on that front moving forward. The league did not say when the game would be made up or resumed.
As for the remainder of the Week 18 schedule, everything remains unchanged. That includes Buffalo slated to take on the New England Patriots at home with the Bengals playing Baltimore.
NFL providing resources to players and staff amid Damar Hamlin medical emergency
The scene from Cincinnati Monday night was surreal. Players on both sides showing outward emotion as Hamlin was being attended to on the field. Bills players with tears in their eyes. Their rivals heading to Buffalo’s locker room after the game was suspended to show them support.
The NFL has made resources available to players and staff members throughout the league to deal with the mental health issues that can arise from such a sobering situation.
“Earlier today, the Head of Player Engagement and Team Clinician for each club received information from Dr. Nyaka Niilampti about mental health and support resources that are available to your players and staff.
Additional resources including on-site services can be available for any club that wishes this assistance. If your club would like to make use of these additional resources, please have your Player Engagement lead or Team Clinician contact Dr. Niilampti.”
Memo from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to teams