Damar Hamlin timeline: Live updates on the Buffalo Bills safety's health and his journey to the NFL

Meredith CashJan 4, 2023, 00:58 IST

Damar Hamlin prepares for a game with the Buffalo Bills.AP Photo/Joshua Bessex

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals Monday night.
The 24-year-old received CPR after suffering cardiac arrest and was taken to the hospital in an ambulance.

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed suddenly during his team's Monday Night Football matchup on the road against the Cincinnati Bengals.

The second-year defensive player was later revealed to have suffered cardiac arrest. Play stopped so medical personnel could administer CPR — which lasted nearly 10 minutes, until his pulse was restored — before an ambulance pulled onto the field to rush Hamlin to the nearby University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

The 24-year-old remained in critical condition in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Hamlin's vitals returned to normal, but he was sedated for further treatment and testing upon his arrival at the hospital, according to his marketing representative, Jordon Rooney.

Here's the timeline of Hamlin's rise to the NFL, his injury during one of the biggest games of his young career, and the latest updates on his health:

Damar Hamlin grew up on Pittsburgh's doorstep in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania.

Damar Hamlin.Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images

As the top-rated defensive player in the state and a highly touted recruit, the Central Catholic High star had his pick of any number of major college football programs.

But Hamlin — who is close to his family, particularly his younger brother, Damir — chose to stay home and play for the Pittsburgh Panthers.

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

And it didn't take long for him to make a name for himself at the next level.

AP Photo/Keith Srakocic

By his sophomore season, Hamlin led Pittsburgh in tackles, hauled in two interceptions on the season, and earned an All-ACC honorable mention.

Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

And before his senior year, he was named a captain for the Panthers.

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Another stellar season in blue and gold led Hamlin to the Reese's Senior Bowl in January 2021.

AP Photo/Rusty Costanza

He made a strong impression on viewers — and NFL scouts — when he snagged a second-half interception to help the National Team to victory.

AP Photo/Matthew Hinton

A few months later, Hamlin realized his professional football dreams when the Buffalo Bills selected him in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes

But before he left for the pros, Hamlin established a charity — The Chasing M's Foundation — to "positively impact the community that raised me."

Though he made several regular-season appearances for the Bills during his rookie season...

AP/ Photo Jeffrey T. Barnes

... his sophomore campaign — during the 2022 season — proved to be Hamlin's breakout year in the NFL.

AP Photo/Terrance Williams

Hamlin worked his way into a starting position and, heading into Week 17, had amassed 91 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and a forced fumble on the year.

AP Photo/Matt Durisko

But during Buffalo's first game of 2023 — a crucial road matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals — disaster struck.

AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper

During the opening quarter at Paycor Stadium, Hamlin made a tackle on Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins.

Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images

But the safety took a big hit to the chest on the play.

Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images

He rose to his feet immediately after the play, but a moment later, Hamlin collapsed without bracing his fall to the turf.

Medical staff rushed onto the field to treat the 24-year-old, whose teammates and opponents circled around him to shield him from the cameras and onlooking crowd.

Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images

Almost immediately, an ambulance was waved onto the field.

Hamlin, who had suffered cardiac arrest, regained a pulse after medical staff gave him nine minutes of CPR and administered an automated external defibrillator (AED).

Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

And by 9:18 — 23 minutes after Hamlin's collapse — the Monday Night Football matchup was temporarily suspended.

Dylan Buell/Getty Images

It would take another 43 minutes — more than an hour after the initial injury — for the NFL to officially postpone the game.

Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

But the ambulance, which had waited at the stadium to bring Hamlin's mother aboard, departed at 9:25 — long before the game was called off for the night.

Hamlin was listed in critical condition upon arrival at The University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

Damar Hamlin.Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Though his vitals returned to normal, Hamlin was sedated for further treatment and testing, according to his marketing representative.

AP Photo/Duane Burleson

One of his superstar teammates — Stefon Diggs —rushed to the hospital to be at Hamlin's bedside.

Stefon Diggs warms up before a game against the Cincinnati Bengals.AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel

And fans of both teams gathered near the hospital to offer prayers for Hamlin's recovery.

Fans gather outside of University of Cincinnati Medical Center to support Damar Hamlin.AP Photo/Jeff Dean

As Hamlin fought for his life through the night, donations to his charity's toy drive skyrocketed into the millions.

Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

In their first public comments following the incident, Hamlin's family expressed "sincere gratitude for the love and support" and added that they are "deeply moved by the prayers, kind words, and donations from fans across the country."

As of midday Tuesday, Hamlin remained in critical condition and his family promised to "release updates as soon as we have them."

AP Photo/Adrian Kraus

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Damar Hamlin timeline: Live updates on the Buffalo Bills safety's health and his journey to the NFL

Damar Hamlin grew up on Pittsburgh's doorstep in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania.

As the top-rated defensive player in the state and a highly touted recruit, the Central Catholic High star had his pick of any number of major college football programs.

But Hamlin — who is close to his family, particularly his younger brother, Damir — chose to stay home and play for the Pittsburgh Panthers.

And it didn't take long for him to make a name for himself at the next level.

By his sophomore season, Hamlin led Pittsburgh in tackles, hauled in two interceptions on the season, and earned an All-ACC honorable mention.

And before his senior year, he was named a captain for the Panthers.

Another stellar season in blue and gold led Hamlin to the Reese's Senior Bowl in January 2021.

He made a strong impression on viewers — and NFL scouts — when he snagged a second-half interception to help the National Team to victory.

A few months later, Hamlin realized his professional football dreams when the Buffalo Bills selected him in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

But before he left for the pros, Hamlin established a charity — The Chasing M's Foundation — to "positively impact the community that raised me."

Though he made several regular-season appearances for the Bills during his rookie season...

... his sophomore campaign — during the 2022 season — proved to be Hamlin's breakout year in the NFL.

Hamlin worked his way into a starting position and, heading into Week 17, had amassed 91 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and a forced fumble on the year.

But during Buffalo's first game of 2023 — a crucial road matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals — disaster struck.

During the opening quarter at Paycor Stadium, Hamlin made a tackle on Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins.

But the safety took a big hit to the chest on the play.

He rose to his feet immediately after the play, but a moment later, Hamlin collapsed without bracing his fall to the turf.

Medical staff rushed onto the field to treat the 24-year-old, whose teammates and opponents circled around him to shield him from the cameras and onlooking crowd.

Almost immediately, an ambulance was waved onto the field.

Hamlin, who had suffered cardiac arrest, regained a pulse after medical staff gave him nine minutes of CPR and administered an automated external defibrillator (AED).

And by 9:18 — 23 minutes after Hamlin's collapse — the Monday Night Football matchup was temporarily suspended.

It would take another 43 minutes — more than an hour after the initial injury — for the NFL to officially postpone the game.

But the ambulance, which had waited at the stadium to bring Hamlin's mother aboard, departed at 9:25 — long before the game was called off for the night.

Hamlin was listed in critical condition upon arrival at The University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

Though his vitals returned to normal, Hamlin was sedated for further treatment and testing, according to his marketing representative.

One of his superstar teammates — Stefon Diggs —rushed to the hospital to be at Hamlin's bedside.

And fans of both teams gathered near the hospital to offer prayers for Hamlin's recovery.

As Hamlin fought for his life through the night, donations to his charity's toy drive skyrocketed into the millions.

In their first public comments following the incident, Hamlin's family expressed "sincere gratitude for the love and support" and added that they are "deeply moved by the prayers, kind words, and donations from fans across the country."

As of midday Tuesday, Hamlin remained in critical condition and his family promised to "release updates as soon as we have them."