Buffalo Bills’ Damar Hamlin in critical condition after collapsing on field

Buffalo defensive back Damar Hamlin was in critical condition early Tuesday after the Bills said he suffered a heart attack on the field after making an interception an hour earlier, leading to the indefinite postponement of Buffalo’s pivotal Saturday night showdown against the Cincinnati Bengals.

“Damar Hamlin suffered a heart attack after a hit in our game against the Bengals. His heartbeat was restored on the field and he was transferred to UC Medical Center for further testing and treatment,” the Bills said in a statement. “He is currently sedated and listed in critical condition.”

In a heartbreaking scene, Hamlin was given CPR on the field, ESPN reported, while surrounded by his teammates, some of whom were in tears, as they shielded him from public view. He got hurt while tackling Bengals receiver Tee Higgins on a seemingly routine play that didn’t look rough.

The NFL announced Hamlin’s condition shortly after he was taken to the hospital, but neither the league nor the hospital released any other details about the 24-year-old’s medical condition. The team’s statement was released before the flight landed back in Buffalo early Tuesday. There is also no immediate update on the game’s future status.

When Hamlin played injured, Higgins led with his right shoulder, which hit the defensive back in the chest. Hamlin then grabbed Higgins’ shoulders and helmet to drag him down. Hamlin quickly got to his feet, appeared to adjust his face mask with his right hand, then fell backwards for about three seconds and didn’t move.

Hamlin was treated on the field by independent medical teams and personnel and local paramedics, and he was taken by ambulance to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Teammate Stefon Diggs later joined Hamlin at the hospital.

About 100 Bills fans and a few Bengals fans gathered on the corner a block from the emergency room entrance, some holding candles.

Jeff Miller, the NFL’s executive vice president, told reporters in a conference call early Tuesday that the league has made no plans at this time to play games, adding that Hamlin’s health is the main focus.

An ambulance was on the field four minutes after Hamlin collapsed as many players hugged each other, including Buffalo quarterbacks Josh Allen and Cincinnati Joe Burrow.

“Please pray for our brother,” Allen tweeted.

Hamlin collapsed at 8:55 p.m., and when he was carted off the field about 19 minutes later in what seemed like an eternity, the Bills were praying. A few minutes after the ambulance left the field, the game was suspended, and the players walked off the field slowly and went to the locker room where they waited for news on Hamlin and the game.

“I haven’t seen anything since I’ve been playing,” NFL executive Troy Vincent, a six-time Pro Bowl cornerback during his career, said on a conference call early Tuesday morning. “Right off the bat, my player hat goes on, like, how do you continue to play after seeing such a traumatic event in front of you?”

Hamlin’s uniform was cut off as he was served by a medical officer. ESPN reported on the broadcast that Hamlin was also given oxygen.

Vincent said the league did not take steps to restart the game and did not ask players to begin a five-minute warm-up period as announced by ESPN broadcasters.

“Never thought about warming up to continue playing,” Vincent said. “That’s ridiculous. That’s insensitive. That’s not where we should be.”

Vincent said the Bills were returning early Tuesday morning to the team facility in Orchard Park, New York, except for a few players who stayed behind with Hamlin.

There was a heavy police presence at Buffalo Niagara International Airport before the team arrived. Police tape covered the entire parking area, cutting off access to player parking spaces.

The Bengals led 7-3 in the first quarter of a matchup between the teams that will be the top playoff seeds in the AFC. Cincinnati enters at 11-4 and leads the AFC North by one game over Baltimore, while AFC East champion Buffalo is 12-3.

“The NFLPA and everyone in our community are praying for Damar Hamlin,” the players’ union said in a statement. “We’ve been in touch with the Bills and Bengals players, and with the NFL. The most important thing right now is Damar’s health and well-being.”

The unfinished game has major playoff implications as the NFL enters the final week of the regular season, with the wild card playoffs scheduled to begin on January 14.

The aftermath of the injury was similar to when the Bills stopped Kevin Everett motionless on the field after making a tackle on the opening kickoff of the second half in Buffalo’s 2007 season opener against the Denver Broncos.

Everett suffered a spinal cord injury that initially left him partially paralyzed.

Hamlin spent five years of college in Pittsburgh – his hometown – and appeared in 48 games for the Panthers over that span. He was a second-team All-ACC player as a senior, was selected as a team captain and was selected to play in the Senior Bowl.

He was drafted in the sixth round by the Bills in 2021, played in 14 games as a rookie and then became the starter this year after Micah Hyde was lost for the season due to injury.

As of late Monday night, the community toy drive organized by Hamlin had raised more than $1.2 million in donations. The goal is $2,500.

Kathryn Bersani and her mother, Gayle, were among the Bills fans who traveled from Buffalo for the game and to the hospital from the stadium.

“This is our family Christmas,” Kathryn Bersani said. “We thought it was going to be a great game. Joe (Burrow) and Josh (Allen) are great people. It’s a sad, sad time. It’s a shock. I just hope to live a normal life. It stunned us.”

Chuck and Janet Kohl went to the hospital after watching the game at home.

“It’s more important than football,” Chuck Kohl said. “Must come and pray for Mr. Hamlin.”

Entering the game, the 6-foot, 200-pound Hamlin had 91 tackles, including 63 solo tackles, and 1 1/2 sacks.

A tweet from the Pitt football account is simple and clear: “Damar Hamlin is the best of us. We love you, 3,” the tweet said, referring to Hamlin by his college jersey number. “Praying for you.”