Bills Issue Update on Damar Hamlin’s Status After On-Field Collapse

The Buffalo safety was taken off the field in an ambulance after collapsing during Monday-night’s game vs. the Bengals.

The Bills issued an update on the health of safety Damar Hamlin early Tuesday morning, saying the 24-year-old remains in critical condition after he went into cardiac arrest during the first quarter of Monday’s game against the Bengals.

Hamlin is currently sedated and receiving treatment at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center following a harrowing scene at Paycor Stadium that left bystanders distressed and ultimately led to the postponement of the AFC matchup. 

The Bills said in a tweet at 1:48 a.m. ET that Hamlin’s heartbeat was restored by medical personnel on the field before he was loaded into an ambulance and taken to the hospital. 

The game came to a stop when Hamlin collapsed after tackling Bengals wideout Tee Higgins. Hamlin initially got up off the ground and to his feet following the play, but then collapsed. He was administered CPR on the field and was then taken away in an ambulance.

Hamlin was then transferred to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. He was accompanied in the ambulance by his mother, play-by-play announcer Joe Buck said during ESPN’s broadcast.

Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest following a hit in our game versus the Bengals. His heartbeat was restored on the field and he was transferred to the UC Medical Center for further testing and treatment. He is currently sedated and listed in critical condition.

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 3, 2023

After Hamlin received medical attention on the field, officials initially talked to each head coach and allowed the teams a reportedly brief time period to warm up before resuming play. Shortly after that decision was announced, though, the Bills and Bengals left the field and returned to the locker room, as the game officially entered what was called a temporary suspension.

The NFL announced approximately an hour later that the game had been postponed, prompting both teams and fans to leave Paycor Stadium. 

“Our thoughts are with Damar and the Buffalo Bills. We will provide more information as it becomes available,” the league said in a statement. “The NFL has been in constant communication with the NFL Players Association which is in agreement with postponing the game.”

Fans gathered outside the hospital in support of Hamlin on Monday night. Buffalo star receiver Stefon Diggs reportedly went to the hospital to be there for Hamlin. Per Joe Danneman of WXIX-TV, the Bills decided to fly back to Buffalo, though “there are people from the organization who will stay with Damar and the family.”

Hamlin was drafted by the Bills in the sixth round in 2021. He played five years at Pittsburgh, during which he recorded 185 tackles.