The NFL has announced several gestures in tribute to Damar Hamlin with his Buffalo Bills set to wear jerseys and game equipment donning his number.
Monday’s crucial game between the Bills and Cincinnati Bengals was set to play a big role in deciding the first seed in the AFC ahead of the NFL playoffs - but such permutations quickly became an afterthought once Hamlin collapsed. With just under six minutes remaining in the opening quarter, the 24-year-old fell to the turf after making a tackle and had to be revived on the field before he was rushed to the University of Cincinnati hospital.
The match was understandably suspended as no players were in the right state to continue playing, while there was a tsunami of support for Hamlin and his family in the aftermath of the worrying scene. On Thursday, University of Cincinnati Health physicians Dr. Timothy Pritts and Dr. William Knight announced Hamlin began to wake up that morning, while they confirmed his neurological function was intact.
Ahead of the final week in the 2022 regular season, the NFL announced a number of gestures to support the Buffalo star as he begins his road to recovery. On Friday, the league confirmed all 32 teams will be encouraged to read a special message before kickoff as a unified show of solidarity for Hamlin, while a scoreboard graphic of the safety will also accompany the pregame tribute.
Meanwhile, the Bills revealed they are set to wear special jersey patches displaying the no.3 - Hamlin’s jersey number - when they face the New England Patriots on Sunday. Buffalo’s coaching staff and other personnel will also don caps with the number ‘3’ embroidered on during pregame warmups.
The NFL have also allowed teams to outline the ’3’ at each 30-yard line marker in the Bills’ iconic blue or red colours. Finally, all players will be permitted to wear black Nike t-shirts that display the message: “Love for Damar 3.”
On Friday, the Bills revealed the physicians at UCMC confirmed Hamlin’s breathing tube had been removed overnight and the safety has reportedly spoken to his family, his care team and Bills teammates. Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott spoke to Hamlin and said he flexed over FaceTime to the delight of his teammates.
The Bills are set to wrap up their regular season campaign against the Patriots this week, with their AFC East rivals needing to win to clinch a spot in the postseason. It’s a huge match for Buffalo too, as the first seed in the AFC is on the line - and the franchise will undoubtedly want to get the win as the ultimate tribute to Hamlin.
