Levon Campbell
Staff Writer
Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills, suffered a cardiac arrest on the field against Cincinnati Bengals on Jan. 2, 2023.
The injury took the air out of the lungs of viewers, since he appeared to be fine after the tackle. Hamlin got up immediately following the hit, but then shortly collapsed.
The arena silenced as Denny Kellington, a Bills assistant athletic trainer, performed CPR on Hamlin for nine minutes before he was transported to the nearest hospital and placed under critical condition.
According to the New York Times, the game was postponed after Hamlin’s condition was revealed to the public but a number of fans expressed disappointment that the game was not canceled sooner.
Javin Cole, a sophomore accounting major from Austin, Texas, said he feels like the NFL made the proper decision.
“It was surprising and scary, and they did a good job canceling the game,” said Cole.
Well-known sport analyst, Skip Bayless, received backlash due to an insensitive tweet regarding the NFL’s decision to postpone the game.
“The Undisputed” co-star tweeted, “No doubt the NFL is considering postponing the rest of this game – but how? This late in the season, a game of this magnitude is crucial to the regular-season outcome … which suddenly seems so irrelevant.”
The tweet gained immediate backlash from celebrities, fans, and athletes who all agreed that Hamlin’s health was the main priority. With Bayless on the receiving end of an extreme magnitude of hate, he released an apology emphasizing his concern for the Bills safety.
Christy Cunningham, head nurse at Columbus Baptist Hospital, said she was shocked by the initial incident and after finding out the severity of his injury, she suggested the team should focus on their health more.
“It was shocking to see him get up after the tackle and then fall back down. Most would’ve thought it was from the hit,” Cunningham said. “His health should be checked more, you never know if this incident is because of something bigger.”
The NFL honored the Bills safety by having all 32 teams have his jersey number (3) on the field, a pregame moment of silence, and a visual on the scoreboard praying for Hamlin’s recovery. While the Bills added a custom patch to their uniform displaying Hamlin’s number.
With Hamlin’s health steadily improving, fans and other athletes began to display their appreciation for the medical team who were able to save Hamlin. ESPN reported Hamlin was discharged from the hospital on Jan. 11, 2023.
He has since returned to the Bills facility, where he was embraced by his team and staff. NFL fans are wishing Hamlin a speedy recovery and hoping for a future return for the Buffalo safety.
Some Jackson State students believe Hamlin’s injury stems from the NFL’s poor safety protocol and the overall hidden danger in contact sports like football.
Andrew Evans, a senior accounting major from Dallas, Texas, said he believes the NFL needs updated safety protocol to ensure their players remain healthy.
“It was shocking, you mostly hear about knee injuries and concussions and the league should check on players more to be safe,” Evans said.
Ian Dickson, a freshman education major from Snellville, Ga., said he never imagined it could be that serious.
“It was shocking, football is already considered a dangerous sport and for this to happen after a tackle made it even more dangerous,” Dickson said.
According to the NFL, the most common injuries players receive are concussions, ACL tears, and MCL tears.
