Written by:Nicholas Sarysz

Buffalo Bills’ Safety, Damar Hamlin, suffered cardiac arrest just eight minutes into the first Monday Night Football game of the year. Medical professional Denny Kellington performed CPR and administered a defibrillator within minutes of the initial tackle that led to Hamlin’s collapse. 

The scene on the field was one of sadness and horror, as players and fans were clearly in no state of mind to continue with the game. On the television broadcast, announcers were left with minimal knowledge of the situation, leaving fans at home in a state of confusion and fear for most of the evening.

Shortly after the injury, both teams and the officials were told they had to prepare to finish the game. About an hour later, it was decided it was in everyone’s best interest to postpone the game — which the National Football League Commissioner, Roger Goodell, eventually decided to cancel.

This is the first game in NFL history to be postponed and canceled due to a traumatic injury to a player. Multiple times this season there have been serious injuries that teams have been required to play through, most notably quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s week four concussion. The controversy surrounding the NFL and its lack of regard for player safety likely played a role in the Damar Hamlin situation.

The 24-year-old from McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, remained in critical condition at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center for eight days following the incident. Hamlin was then transported to the Buffalo General Medical Center/Gates Vascular Institute to continue his recovery. The medical center plans to perform tests and observations in order to determine more specifics on the cause of Hamlin’s injury, as well as when he will be fit for release.

The Bills played their final game this Sunday, Jan. 1 against the New England Patriots. The players supported Hamlin by wearing number three patches on their jerseys, and fans displayed their support with signs and cheers. Their first playoff game is Sunday, Jan. 15 where they will face off against the Miami Dolphins, which they hope Hamlin will be able to watch from the comfort of his own home.

Contact the author at howlstaffwriter@wou.edu