CNN
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Messages of support for Damar Hamlin poured in from the sports world following the collapse of Buffalo Bills safety on the field.
Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest and fell to his back moments after tackling Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins in Monday’s NFL game. The 24-year-old remains in critical condition since Tuesday morning at a Cincinnati hospital.
Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson tweeted shortly after the incident, writing, “Wow. Praying for you @HamlinIsland. Praying for health and safety.
Arizona Cardinals defensive end JJ Watt said on Twitter, “The game is not important. Damar Hamlin’s life is important. Please agree. Please.”
The Pittsburgh Panthers football program at the University of Pittsburgh, where Hamlin played college football, added, “Damar Hamlin is the best of us. We love you, 3. Pray for you.
Hamlin, a Pennsylvania native, joined the Bills in 2021 as a sixth-round pick from the University of Pittsburgh. He has played every game this season.
The Bills game against the Bengals was suspended at 5:58 of the first quarter, then officially postponed. The NFL said more details on next steps would come at an “appropriate time,” adding that Hamlin’s well-being was the priority.
The official Bengals Twitter account wrote after the incident: “Sending our thoughts and prayers to Damar.
Higgins, the Bengals wide receiver involved in the collision with Hamlin, said, “My prayers and thoughts are with @HamlinIsland the Hamlin family. I pray you’ll be okay my brother.
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Baker Mayfield wrote: “Incredibly sad…. The heart is extremely heavy right now. Prayers for @HamlinIsland his health and the Hamlin family now. Life is too important.
“Cherish every moment.”
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes tweeted, “Pray hard…please it’s okay man.”
American tennis player Jessica Pegula, the daughter of Bills owner Terry Pegula, called the incident “terrible” after her United Cup tennis match in Australia.
“There are really no words,” she told reporters, according to Reuters. “I’m glad they stopped the game. It brings you back to a lot of bigger things that are more important than sports and games. It was pretty scary.
She later tweeted, “At times like this, we are reminded of perspective. It’s just a game and in the end it doesn’t matter after what happened tonight. My prayers go out to Damar and his family. This team is a family, football is a family, sport brings us together as a family.
American tennis star Coco Gauff added: “I send my prayers to Damar and his family. I wish him a full and safe recovery. It’s bigger than sports…we should all continue to surround him and his family with prayer and positivity.
The Los Angeles Chargers and New York Giants were among the NFL teams to send messages of support.
The Chargers said the “organization’s thoughts + prayers are with Damar Hamlin, the Bills and Bills Mafia,” while the Giants said the team “prays for Damar Hamlin and the entire Buffalo Bills organization. “.
After his historic 71 points in the Cleveland Cavaliers’ win over the Chicago Bulls on Monday, NBA star Donovan Mitchell told reporters he wanted to “say prayers for the safety of the Bills.”
“I heard of it, I didn’t see it,” Mitchell said. “But you know I wish him and his family…we are praying for him, all of us in the locker room. On behalf of the Cavaliers organization, we wish the best and pray that everything goes well.
LeBron James, who had his own historic night after becoming the second player in NBA history aged 35 or older to record consecutive games over 40 points, told reporters: “I saw the game, but I don’t know what happened.
“My thoughts and awesome prayers go out to heaven for this kid’s family, for him, for this NFL brotherhood and for everyone in the NFL family.
“It’s definitely the right call, by the one who made that call, Roger Goodell [NFL Commissioner] or whoever had the power to make this call to suspend [game].
“The safety of players in all sports is always the most important. It was a terrible thing to see.
James added, “I’m a huge NFL fan. I am a big football fan. You never want to see something like that happen in the type of competition they play in.
In a tweet accompanied by a video of Hamlin waving to his family at the side of the pitch, James later tweeted, “Praying for you kid!!!”
Mike Trout, 10-time Major League Baseball All-Star, was among a number of MLB players to send messages of support, saying, “Prayer for Damar Hamlin.”
Damar Hamlin’s friend speaks to CNN outside the hospital
