Bills, Bengals come together in support of Damar Hamlin

Football fans outside the University of Cincinnati Medical Center after Buffalo Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field during the Monday Night Football showdown with the Bengals. Cara Owsley/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

Bills, Bengals come together in heartwarming unison in support of Damar Hamlin

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 1/3/23

Hours after what was supposed to be a fierce battle with major AFC playoff implications, the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals instead came together in heartwarming fashion in support of Damar Hamlin.

From Buffalo's star wide receiver Stefon Diggs to Cincinnati head coach Zac Taylor and scores of fans on both sides, the two organizations joined in unison during the late hours Monday night and into early Tuesday morning as they prayed for Hamlin. The Bills defensive back suffered a cardiac arrest after making a tackle during the first quarter of the Week 17 "Monday Night Football" contest, which eventually led to the game being postponed.

Diggs reportedly took an Uber to the UC Medical Center late Monday and after briefly being stopped by a cop before entering the building, the Pro Bowler was able to go inside to see his teammate.

Stefon Diggs showing up to the hospital to be with his teammate speaks volumes about who he is. No cameras with him. No social media posts. No clout chasing. Just a dude going to be by his teammate’s side#BillsMafia #Bills #GoBills

pic.twitter.com/rtX2fNXI4l
— Anthony Cover 1 (@Pro__Ant) January 3, 2023

As an emotional Stefon Diggs told me: “This is all so messed up … we just had to be here for our teammate.” Diggs desperately was trying to tell the officer that he was Hamlin’s teammate and needed to be inside. https://t.co/4MX7suNZtG
— Coley Harvey (@ColeyHarvey) January 3, 2023

NFL Network reporter Cameron Wolfe tweeted early Tuesday morning that the Bengals head coach was among the members of both teams to come by the hospital to check on Hamlin, and that "about 50-75 fans" were also on hand outside of the hospital "for support."

ESPN's Coley Harvey tweeted a picture at 1:57 a.m. ET on Tuesday of the view outside Paycor Stadium, which was lit up in blue and white for Hamlin.

Left University of Cincinnati Medical Center a few moments ago. Very classy gesture from the @Bengals, who’ve lit Paycor Stadium in the @BuffaloBills’ blue and white for Damar Hamlin. pic.twitter.com/ahrXulODlI
— Coley Harvey (@ColeyHarvey) January 3, 2023

NFL reporter Albert Breer reported Tuesday morning that as of "about 2 a.m.", Hamlin was in critical condition and was sedated. Breer added that all of the Bills players returned to Buffalo in the early morning hours on Tuesday.

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