In an open press call late Monday night, NFL executives shared details about their decision-making process following Damar Hamlin’s midgame collapse.
“Once the player was down, play stopped” and a pre-planned emergency action plan went into effect, said Troy Vincentexecutive vice president of NFL football operations.
“Obviously we saw the coaches, the players and those who watched the game all traumatised.”
Vincent, a former NFL cornerback, added that he had no idea at the moment of the competition, saying: “Nothing else mattered but Damar’s care.”
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” he added.
Dawn Apontethe NFL’s football administrative director, said the league was in “constant communication with both teams” and that their decisions were guided by medical advice.
The Buffalo Bills, Hamlin’s team, return to Buffalo on Tuesday morning, although a handful of players would remain behind, the NFL said. They added that the next steps regarding the game would come “when the time is right”, but the priority was Hamlin’s well-being.
Jeff Miller, executive vice president of communications for the NFL, said the league does not have an update on Hamlin’s condition beyond what was released earlier. The NFL’s initial statement said Hamlin was in critical condition in the hospital.
