Solidarity for Damar Hamlin

1/31/2023

During the NFL’s regularly scheduled Monday Night Football program, the Buffalo Bills began their game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium, Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered an alarming injury. On what seemed to be a routine play, Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins’ helmet and shoulder pads struck Hamlin in his chest area. As Hamlin stood back up to move onto the next snap, he suddenly went limp and fell backward onto the turf unconscious. As athletic trainers rushed the field, they moved 

him on and off a stretcher and performed CPR on site. 

Bills players in hysteria and confusion shed tears, shared prayers, and refused to continue the game. The game held large playoff implications, as both teams are in the running as playoff competitors. However, players and fans alike pushed aside the logistical needs of the league. The concern for his safety and well-being before all else.

Every year numerous cases arise of fatal football injuries at the high school level, each time sparking media reactions about the viability and safety of football. But for the first time in a substantial period, on the largest stage and on the largest scale, football has been questioned recently more than ever. Hamlin’s potentially life-threatening injury raised national media concern for the safety of youth and young adults and professionals. Football in its nature is violent, at times brutal, and requires high intensity and so accidents do happen. The game has already been trending into a safer, less contact tolerant league. But the NFL and game in general constantly are in a battle between making the game safer and still upholding the spirit and culture of the game. 

Medical staff on field used AEDs and CPR to revive him on the field and was quickly rushed to the University of Cinncinatis medical center. He is still critical condition, however outside of his unconscious mind, in the real world waves are being made to support his initiatives.

The overwhelmingly positive impact of football can now be seen in the immediate reactions to the alarming event. On tailend of Hamlin’s college years at Pitt University, he began a GoFundMe mini charity, a kids toy drive. Donations before his injury hovered around $3,000, but with quick simpathy from fans the page has received over 7 million dollars in just 18 hours since Hamlin collapsed. 

A significant portion of the 7 million came from players, coaches and staff in and out of the NFL. The most substantial donation came from big names: Robert Kraft- $18,000, Houston Texans-$10,000, Sean McVay-$10,000, Matthew Stafford- $12,000, Tom Brady-$10,000, Russell and Ciara Wilson-$10,000, Wrestler Chris Jencko-$10,000. Other players such as George Kittle, Christian McCaffrey, Sauce Gardner, Andrew Whiteworth, Mcourty twins and many many other players made personal donations exceeding 1,000 dollars.

Hamlin embodies the common phenomenon of football players feeling indebted and obligated to aiding their communities once their lucrative careers take off. Hamlin even in his college years had such an ambition and ulitilized what platform he had at the time, saying before his injury, "As I embark on my journey to the NFL, I will never forget where I come from and I am committed to using my platform to positively impact the community that raised me… I created The Chasing M's Foundation as a vehicle that will allow me to deliver that impact, and the first program is the 2020 Community Toy Drive." However just as impressively, the giving and compassionate spirit that so many of those in the football industry offered to Hamlin in respect to his initiatives show the values football instills in those it touches. So many in the field rushed to both pay tribute to him and provide aid. As the world wishes a speedy and full recovery for Damar Hamlin, football people are joining together for causes larger than themselves.

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Works Cited

Genovese, Daniella. "Buffalo Bills' Josh Allen helps Americans clear $10M of consumer debt." FoxBuisness.com, 14 Dec. 2022, www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/buffalo-bills-jo