Damar Hamlin attended the Buffalo Bills playoff game against the Cincinnati Bengals for an emotional reunion between the two teams.
The Bills and Bengals reignited their rivalry in Sunday’s Divisional Round just under three weeks after the Buffalo safety suffered cardiac arrest on the field during their Week 17 clash.
In touching scenes, Hamlin returned to Highmark Stadium and joined his teammates in the dressing room before taking to the field to face the Bengals.
Damar Hamlin attended an emotional reunion at the Bills playoff game against the Bengals
In a video shared on the Bills’ Twitter account, Hamlin was seen arriving at Buffalo’s facilities, being wheeled by a security cart to the team’s locker room.
Head down and hood pulled up, Hamlin moved quickly from the wagon to the locker room.
The 24-year-old did not come onto the field as he takes it easy while he continues to recover, instead reportedly watching the game from the warmth and comfort of a suite as the snow fell in Orchard Park.
His mother Nina was also spotted with Hamlin’s younger brother Damir, 7.
He faces a lengthy recovery – and his family spokesman said earlier this week he “still needs oxygen”.
Before the matchup, Hamlin tweeted a video from a previous game of him on the field running to his family in the stands with the simple caption “GameDay…3 p.m.” with a hands-make-a-heart emoji, his characteristic movement and two red hearts.
Hamlin had tackled Bengals receiver Tee Higgins in the first quarter of Monday night’s crucial game on January 2 – when the two teams last met – and stood up briefly before falling backwards to the ground and lying motionless.
Hamlin (left) suffered cardiac arrest after a tackle against the Bengals on Jan. 2
Hamlin was revived in the field and taken by ambulance to a Cincinnati hospital
He was tended to by members of the Bills training staff, including Denny Kellington – who has been identified as the man who gave Hamlin the necessary CPR.
Hamlin spent more than a week in hospital, part of that time in critical condition, before finally being able to return home after encouraging progress.
Since his release, Hamlin has visited the Bills’ training facility almost daily, according to team staff, but his recovery is expected to be a long one.
“Damar still requires oxygen and has his heart monitored regularly to make sure there aren’t any setbacks or after-effects,” Jordon Rooney, Hamlin’s longtime friend and business partner, told the Associated Press on Thursday.
“Although he can visit the team’s facility, Damar is unable to travel often and needs extra rest to help his body heal.”
Hamlin reunited with his teammates on Saturday and toasted their wildcard playoff win over the Miami Dolphins from home.
Bill’s LB Matt Milano shared a picture of teammate Hamlin with the team last Saturday
The 24-year-old tweeted his support ahead of the Bills’ game against the Dolphins last week
Bill’s safety Hamlin was discharged from the Buffalo hospital and continued his recovery at home
Support for Hamlin continued in Sunday’s AFC Wild Card game against the Dolphins
He’s back in the building and taking “small steps” on his road to a full recovery, revealed Bill’s head coach Sean McDermott.
“Damar is in the building almost every day now and that’s good news,” McDermott told reporters ahead of Wednesday’s practice.
“If he keeps improving, that helps [the rest of the team]. We carry this experience with us. There is a challenge [dealing with] that, but also a lot of good that has come out of it and we need to focus on the positive now.’
When specifically asked what Hamlin has been able to do since returning to the building, McDermott added: “It’s limited overall, but he’s coming in just trying to get back to a routine. Take one small step at a time.’
McDermott is keen that his group is “focused on positives” at the moment as Hamlin is making progress, but when he was asked to reflect on the lasting impact Hamlin’s cardiac arrest was having on him, the Bills coach’s confidence kicked in the foreground.
“I think the biggest thing I’ve learned as a human being is that people set aside their agendas for the common good in order to achieve a goal,” he added.
Bills trainer Sean McDermott said safety is taking “baby steps” on his road to a full recovery
A mural dedicated to Bill’s Safety Hamlin in the Larkinville neighborhood of Buffalo
“I’m 48 years old and I shared this story with my kids on Sunday after the New England game, the first chance I had to slow down. If you can go through life for 48 years without anything like this happening, you realize that God is real and the power of prayer.
QB Josh Allen previously said something similar to his coach when asked about the lasting effects of Hamlin’s demise.
‘[There was] just kind of a spiritual awakening for me, and I know for a lot of other people who might not have had the strongest faith or weren’t one of the greatest [or] strongest Christian followers,’ the Bills QB said Kyle Brandt of ESPN before the playoff matchup with the Dolphins.
“Something grabbed me,” Allen added. “It was extremely powerful, I couldn’t deny that.”
To give back to the hospital that saved his life, Hamlin has launched a line of t-shirts with proceeds going to UC Medical Center.
The Bills player has also started toy charities to raise money for his local community.