TEXAS — Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest on Monday night after making a tackle sent a shock wave through the NFL and fans. The game itself, against the Cincinnati Bengals, was suddenly unimportant as the scene unfolded on national television.
The 24-year-old Hamlin was administered CPR on the field, ESPN reported during the broadcast. Teammates surrounded Hamlin, shielding him from public view. Many were weeping and praying while Hamlin was treated on the field by team and independent medical personnel and local paramedics.
Calls for thoughts and prayers poured in Monday night and Tuesday morning, including from the Dallas Cowboys and the Houston Texans.
Sending our thoughts and prayers to @HamlinIsland and the @BuffaloBills. https://t.co/ybbZ3YxTfg
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) January 3, 2023
Dallas defensive end Demarcus Lawrence offered prayers.
Praying for a miracle. 🙏🏿
— DeMarcus Lawrence (@TankLawrence) January 3, 2023
Drew Brees, the former New Orleans Saints quarterback who got his start at Westlake High School in Austin, called Hamlin “a member of our brotherhood.”
Damar Hamlin represents every one of us and every teammate we've ever had. I've never met him, but I know him as a member of our brotherhood. My family and I pray for him and his family as he recovers. God be with him.
— Drew Brees (@drewbrees) January 3, 2023
The Houston Texans on Monday tweeted in solidarity with the Bills.
Sending our thoughts and prayers to @HamlinIsland and the @BuffaloBills. https://t.co/MVYtdR8MnC
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) January 3, 2023
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, appearing on a Dallas radio show, said he was proud of the response by the medical team.
“Certainly the most different thing that I’ve watched, and relative to just the sincere outpouring of interest in Damar’s family’s well-being and of course Damar, it was special to see him have available the emergency care that he had,” Jones said.
“And as it turns out and as we know more, that care could have very well been a difference-maker,” Jones continued. “We don’t know that at all and I don’t have any data on his medical condition. But I’m so proud of everyone involved.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.