January 2, 2023, was shaping up to be one of the best NFL games of the year. The Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals were set to square off in a game that would have huge implications for the fast-approaching playoffs. The Bengals won the toss, elected to receive the ball, and went on an electric scoring drive. The Bills would respond with a field goal, on the Bengals next drive, disaster struck. Bills safety Damar Hamlin went to make a tackle on Bengals receiver Tee Higgins. After the play, Hamlin stood up momentarily before collapsing back onto the field. Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest and needed CPR to restore his heartbeat. 

Every player and coach for both teams surrounded Hamlin as the Bills’ outstanding medical staff put all effort forward to save Hamlin’s life. Hamlin would then be escorted to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where he was announced to be in critical condition. Players for both teams appeared disheveled. Bills players were crying, and Bengals players stood by them in shock. Fans of both teams showed their support by traveling to the hospital. The game delay went on for 50 minutes until ,, following debate between Bills head coach Sean McDermott, and Bengals coach Zac Taylor, and officials from the NFL, game would rightfully be postponed. 

Immediately after the injury, fans of the NFL united and discovered Hamlin had a charity called The Chasing M’s Foundation Community Toy Drive. As of January 22, 2023, the charity has raised 8.9 million dollars. The night of the injury, endless donations, thoughts, and prayers flooded into the charity, raising over four million dollars in total.. Hamlin was ultimately put in a medically induced coma.

After the horrific scene, Bills quarterback Josh Allen wrote on Twitter: “Please pray for our brother.” Tampa Bay quarterback Tom Brady tweeted, “We’re praying for Damar and his family this morning in Tampa. Moments like this put into perspective what it means to play this game we love. Thankful for our communities in Cincinnati and Buffalo for the overwhelming level of care and support I know they’ll continue to provide.”

Hamlin woke up after nine days and asked, “Did we win [the game]?” The doctors told Hamlin “You won, you won the game of life.” Then, on January 6, Hamlin facetimed into the Bills locker room and told his teammates, “I love you boys.”

Six days later, the Bills squared off against their bitter rivals, the New England Patriots. The pregame was emotional, and the Bills were charged up, prepared to win not only for their teammate, but their brother. The game started with the Bills receiving the opening kickoff. What happened next was right out of a storybook. Bills running back Nyheim Hines returned the opening kickoff 96 yards, and Highmark Stadium erupted. During the return, Hamlin, who was watching from the hospital tweeted, “OMFG!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Later in the third quarter the Patriots kicked  a field goal to take a 17-14 lead, and Hines did it again. Hines returned  another kick, this time for 101 yards. After, when asked about Hines’s first return, Allen said, “I can’t remember a play that touched me like that, ever in my life.” 9 days after being in a coma, Hamlin was released from the hospital, and returned home. While on the way home, Hamlin tweeted, “Headed home to Buffalo today with a lot of love on my heart. Watching the world come together around me on Sunday was truly an amazing feeling. The same love you all have shown me is the same love that I plan to put back into the world n more. Bigger than football!”

On January 22, 2023, the Bills faced  off in a home playoff game against the Cincinnati Bengals. 20 days after the horrifying events, Hamlin was able to visit his teammates in their locker room pregame, and sit in a press box during the game. At one point, Hamlin was shown on the jumbotron, causing the crowd to erupt into cheers, and Hamlin made a heart with his hands. 

The Bengals would go on to beat the Bills 27-10. Hamlin tweeted, “We’ll be back… don’t even trip.” Despite suffering possibly the worst injury in NFL history, Hamlin fought for his life and won. Inspiring his teammates, players around the league, fans, and people from all walks of life.