The entire sports world was shaken to see Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffer cardiac arrest after a tackle in Monday night’s game against the Bengals. Come Tuesday, prayers continued to come in for Hamlin who remained in critical condition at UC Medical Center.
That included a personal perspective from Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin.
Hamlin played his college football at the University of Pittsburgh and went to high school in Pittsburgh. Tomlin had gotten to know Hamlin over the years, so when it came time for his Tuesday press conference, the Steelers coach wanted to speak about Hamlin before taking any questions.
Coach Tomlin shares his very personal thoughts on Damar Hamlin: pic.twitter.com/gymuijitfp
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) January 3, 2023
He said:
“Before I open up for questions, I’ll say this about Damar Hamlin. That is a really personal thing for me being a Pittsburgher and that young man being a Pittsburgher. I’ve known that guy probably since he was about 12. Just got a lot of respect and love for him as a human being, his commitment to the pursuit of his goals and dreams of doing what it is he’s doing right now, which is playing in the NFL. To watch him make personal decisions and make that a realization –it’s just an honor to get to know young people like that. I had the opportunity to express that to him whenever I see him. We played Buffalo each of the past two seasons, and he and I get to have a moment. Because it’s just cool to not only appreciate these guys in terms of where they are now but to know them since they were younger people and to watch their maturation and development. To watch them earn what they’ve been chasing is just really a cool thing. He’s an example of that. I got a lot of love for that young man. We lifted him and that organization up in prayer. Reached out to Sean McDermott to lend whatever assistance I could.”
Fans also appreciated the remarks from Tomlin.
This was how Twitter reacted
Epitome of a great coach and an amazing human being https://t.co/ZFKegVERl7
— Teddy💛 (@Teddy_20) January 3, 2023
This is great. Can understand why Tomlin is so successful.
What a leader. https://t.co/ZYiSJC5N7H
— Jon J. Kerr (@jonjkerr) January 3, 2023
Always love what Coach Tomlin has to say. #GreatMan 😎 https://t.co/ULDNUNUm5X
— Eugene Harris (@MrKHarris76) January 3, 2023
This is literally why Coach Tomlin is one of my favorite coaches of all time. Steelers are lucky to have him as a head coach. https://t.co/aL4e5zXdsx
— Mr. Phily (@MrPhily76) January 3, 2023
How can anyone not like Mike Tomlin? Dude just rocks https://t.co/xCUFKFPYS2
— Dallas (@dasmith23) January 3, 2023
Finding the right words to say while having to lead your own team, has to be one of the most challenging parts of the job for head coaches today. https://t.co/Jg7HH0kJ0m
— Dianna Russini (@diannaESPN) January 3, 2023
This man always gives a master class on how to be a great coach and greater human being https://t.co/O8p2sgZyWs
— TennisGdzilla (@Tennisgdzilla) January 3, 2023
This is worth your time today. https://t.co/kCPWQTL59Z
— Johnny Venerable (@JohnnyVenerable) January 3, 2023
Mike Tomlin speaks on Damar Hamlin, who he has known since he was 12-years old 🙏🙏 https://t.co/FOp5BCZ1dA
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) January 3, 2023
Well said.
