- After Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest on the field last Monday, Bills assistant trainer Denny Kellington was the one who administered CPR.
- On Sunday, Bills receiver John Brown scored a touchdown and gave the ball to Kellington.
Tributes to Bills safety Damar Hamlin were held around the NFL this weekend, as the league returned to action for the first time since his on-field cardiac arrest.
On Buffalo's very first play since its game against the Bengals on Monday night was canceled, running back Nyheim Hines took the opening kickoff back for a touchdown against the New England Patriots, in a moment that would have left script-writers looking for something more subtle.
But another meaningful tribute happened during Sunday's Bills game, by way of wide receiver John Brown.
Brown, who had just returned to the Bills in November after stints with several other teams, scored his first touchdown in two years, connecting with quarterback Josh Allen on a deep ball.
—Buffalo Fanatics (@BfloFanatics) January 8, 2023
After his score, he gave the touchdown ball to Bills assistant trainer Denny Kellington, who administered CPR to Hamlin immediately after he went down on the field last week.
—NFL (@NFL) January 8, 2023
There have been many heroes involved in the story of Hamlin's recovery, Kellington being one of them.
The Bills took a moment before Sunday's game to recognize the medical and training staff members for helping to prevent a tragedy on Monday night.
—Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 8, 2023
Bills head coach Sean McDermott also acknowledged Kellington and the entirety of the Bills medical and training staff for their quick, brave action while speaking with reporters for the first time since Hamlin's injury last week.
"Denny is one of our assistant trainers. Nate Breske is our head trainer. Just like anything else, that whole team, our medical team, they go through their exercises for things like this, but we are never around to see that. As they say practice pays off, and it did in this case," he said.
"For an assistant to find himself at that position, needing to take the action that he did to step up and take charge like he did. There were others on the field as well. It's nothing short of amazing. The courage that that took. You talk about a real leader, a real hero, saving Damar's life. I admire his strength."