Bills’ Damar Hamlin was briefly in cardiac arrest after on-field collapse
Washington PostJan 03, 2023
Buffalo Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin, who collapsed from cardiac arrest during the team's NFL Monday Night Football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday, was awake and able to communicate through writing Thursday, according to his doctors.
Hamlin's collapse occurred following his tackle of Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins, which saw Hamlin hit in the chest. He stood up for around three seconds before collapsing, with athletic trainers immediately rushing onto the field to administer treatment.
This type of situation is the reason the NFL and NFLPA developed emergency action plans for each city and stadium, including providing an ambulance and a Level 1 trauma center at every game. The league understands serious injuries can occur during the game, and it goes to great measures to ensure players receive the best treatment available.
With incidents like this becoming commonplace in the NFL, this injury serves as another reminder that the league prioritizes monetary gain over the safety of its players. It took the league a staggering hour after CPR was first administered to Hamlin to postpone the game, and the postponement only happened after coaches, captains, and players declared they wouldn’t continue.