Bigger Than Football: Buffalo Bills Safety “Wins The Game Of Life”

A Buffalo Bills fan watches a game in brutal weather (Teryll KerrDouglas/Unsplash).

On January 2nd, week 17 in the NFL, the Buffalo Bills faced the Cincinnati Bengals. Bills safety Damar Hamlin, 24, collapsed on the field after tackling Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins.

Article by Tessa Peloso, Senior Sports Correspondent

CINCINNATI - A divisional game that would determine the seeding for two teams that were competing head to head, canceled. During the first quarter of the game, Hamlin tackled Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins, who’s shoulder looked to collide with Hamlin’s chest. Hamling proceeded to stand up but collapsed on the field seconds later.

The Buffalo Bills organization made a statement stating that Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest, with there being several potential causes, cardiologists stated that he also suffered from “commotio cordis”, which is an abnormal heart rhythm.

Dr. Comilla Sasson, an emergency medicine physician in Denver and spokesperson for the American Heart Association said, “It’s not about how hard of a hit it was. It’s actually about the timing of when the blow happens”.

Medical personnel rushed to Hamlin after his collapse and cardiac arrest on the field. He was resuscitated and intubated on the field. Denny Kellington, the Bills assistant athletic trainer, was the person who performed CPR on Hamlin on the field.

Hamlin was rushed to University of Cincinnati Medical Center where he was placed on a ventilator and also flipped on his stomach to relieve the strain on his lungs, his uncle Dorrian Glenn told CNN.

When Hamlin awoke he scribbled on a clipboard to his doctors. “Did we win?”

Dr. Timothy Pritts stated this during a news conference in Cincinnati, his response being “Yes, Damar, you won. You’ve won the game of life.”

Teams around the league showed their support for Damar Hamlin, making shirts stating “Love for Damar”, outlining the number 3 on their football fields, and many celebrities and athletes took to social media to show their love and support.

This past weekend when the Buffalo Bills faced the New England Patriots, Running Back Nyheim Hines returned a 96 yard opening kickoff which was the first time in three years and three months for the Bills.

Quarterback Josh Allen, who was filled with emotion at their postgame conference, explained the game as “spiritual”.