One of the scariest moments in NFL history took place Monday night, and a McKees Rocks native was at the center of it.
Damar Hamlin, a Central Catholic graduate and former Pitt star who is in his second season as a safety with the Buffalo Bills, collapsed on the field and went into cardiac arrest during the first quarter of the Monday Night Football game between the Bills and host Cincinnati Bengals. After being attended to for about 30 minutes, which included medical personnel administering CPR to him on the field, Hamlin was loaded in an ambulance and transported to University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Both teams returned to their locker rooms, and the NFL eventually postponed the game just after 10 p.m., a little over an hour after Hamlin fell to the turf. On Tuesday, the NFL announced that the game will not be resumed this week. Hamlin is being listed in critical condition.
“Hamlin received immediate medical attention on the field by team and independent medical staff and local paramedics,” the NFL said in a statement. “He was then transported to a local hospital where he is in critical condition.”
Jordon Rooney, a friend of Hamlin’s and his marketing representative, provided an update at 10:31 p.m. stating that Hamlin’s vital signs had returned to normal and that he was being intubated as tests were administered.
The Bills tweeted Tuesday afternoon that Hamlin spent Monday night in the intensive care unit and remains there in critical condition. Hamlin’s family then issued a statement thanking first responders and the public in general for their prayers, kind words and donations.
In what appeared at first to be a routine play, Hamlin made an open field tackle of Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins. Hamlin then quickly got to his feet and then collapsed backward. Players immediately screamed for medical assistance. The first quarter clock stood at 5:58 when players and coaches from both teams came onto the field. Most of them stood in shock, many of them praying for Hamlin.
Hamlin, 24, graduated from Central Catholic in 2016 after leading the Vikings to WPIAL and PIAA Class 4A titles his senior season. He finished that season with 89 tackles, 2 interceptions and 3 fumble recoveries. Hamlin was highly recruited. Rivals ranked him the No. 4 player in the state, the No. 7 safety in the 2016 class, and the No. 126 player in the country. He ultimately committed to Pitt over offers from Penn State, Ohio State, Notre Dame and Clemson.
At Pitt, Hamlin lived up to the expectations and then some. He started four games at safety his redshirt freshman season before becoming a full-time starter the following season. Hamlin led Pitt in tackles in 2018, was second in 2019, and led them again in 2020, his final season. He was an all-ACC second-team choice in 2020. In five seasons at Pitt, Hamlin registered 275 tackles and six interceptions.
Hamlin was selected by the Bills in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL draft and was having a breakout second season for a team that is fighting for the No. 1 seed in the AFC in the upcoming NFL playoffs. Hamlin has started all but two games this season while collecting 91 tackles and 1½ sacks.
As news of Hamlin’s situation spread, friends and former teammates, as well as athletes from around the sports world chimed in with their thoughts and prayers, and donations poured into an online fundraiser Hamlin started in 2020.
Brad is a sports writer at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at beverett@unionprogress.com.