January 4, 2023 The latest updates on NFL star Damar Hamlin's condition

By Jessie Yeung, Sophie Tanno, Aditi Sangal, Adrienne Vogt and Mike Hayes, CNN

Updated 9:45 AM ET, Thu January 5, 2023

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4:11 p.m. ET, January 4, 2023

Buffalo Bills star Damar Hamlin remains in critical condition. Here's what you need to know

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, 24, remains in critical condition in a Cincinnati hospital after suffering cardiac arrest mid-game on Monday night, his team said.

Hamlin's heartbeat was restored on the field after he collapsed, the Bills said.

Here's what you need to know:

Hamlin's condition: The player remains hospitalized in the intensive care unit in critical condition, the Bills tweeted Tuesday. Hamlin's heartbeat was restored on the field as staff tended to him, the Bills have said, before he was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Hamlin was resuscitated only once, a family spokesman clarified Wednesday, not twice, as his uncle told CNN on Tuesday.
Family thanks supporters: In a statement Tuesday, released via Hamlin's friend Jordon Rooney, the player's family expressed gratitude "for the love and support shown to Damar during this challenging time," and thanked fans for their prayers and millions of dollars in donations to his foundation's toy drive.
No new date for game: The NFL said it "has made no decision regarding the possible resumption" of the Bills-Bengals game. It added that no changes have been made to the Week 18 NFL schedule.
Focus on Hamlin: The NFL players' union said in a statement Tuesday that "our focus remains on Damar." The union added that it is in touch with the teams and the NFL to provide support for all players affected.
Teammates rally: Hamlin's team landed back in Buffalo at 3:30 a.m. ET on Tuesday, while several of his teammates chose to stay behind in Cincinnati . A source with the Bills said the players and staff are still processing what they witnessed Monday night and everyone was "exhausted."

Editor’s Note: This story had been updated to reflect the number of times Hamlin was resuscitated based on information from a family spokesperson and his uncle. Read the latest update here.

11:57 p.m. ET, January 3, 2023

Damar Hamlin is always looking out for others, friend says

From CNN’s Jamiel Lynch

Damar Hamlin's friend and marketing representative Jordon Rooney described the 24-year-old player as "someone who always looks out for others."

"He’s someone who is selfless. He’s charismatic. He’s super caring. He’s always looking out for others," Rooney told CNN. "It doesn’t matter how he’s feeling, what went on that day, he’s giving himself to others to make sure other people in the room feel welcome, feel appreciated, feel inspired."

After Hamlin's collapse Monday night, a GoFundMe toy drive he organized saw a surge in donations, with more than $5.8 million now pledged by more than 197,000 donors.

Rooney said Hamlin started the Chasing M’s Foundation in college before his NFL contract. He had sponsored a toy drive, a back-to-school program, summer program and summer camp.

"His foundation, Chasing M’s foundation, really helps to support young people chasing their dreams in Pittsburgh," Rooney said.

3:17 a.m. ET, January 4, 2023

Buffalo Bills player Dion Dawkins praises NFL for postponing the game

From CNN's Kevin Dotson

Dion Dawkins of the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on December 17, in Orchard Park, New York. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Dion Dawkins expressed gratitude for the NFL's decision to postpone Monday night’s game following teammate Damar Hamlin's collapse.

Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest and collapsed on the field mid-game in Cincinnati. The game was suspended with nearly six minutes left in the first quarter and later was officially postponed — an unusual move for a league that often resumes play even after severe injuries.

Dawkins told CNN's Wolf Blitzer on Tuesday that he's "truly blessed" players weren't forced to keep playing.

"The fact that we did not have to go back out there on that field and play just shows that there is care, and that’s all we can ever ask for is that we get treated as people," Dawkins said.

"Because most people just treat us as athletes, and as superstars, and some people like celebrities, but in that moment they treated us like people. And being treated as a person that is cared for, it’s a beautiful feeling. And I’m thankful that I was treated as a person and so was the rest of my teammates because at the end of the day, we are people. And we have feelings, we have emotions, we cry, we hurt. And we have families, and they hurt and they cry. We’re individuals that are imperfect and the world wants us to be perfect, and I’m thankful that the NFL has definitely put us first.”

While wearing a hat emblazoned with the name of Hamlin’s clothing company and charitable toy drive, "Chasing M's," Dawkins described his teammate as a fighter.

"And he’s fighting, and he’s going to keep fighting," he added. "And we know our teammate, and he is one of the strongest guys, so he’s going to keep fighting and he’s going to make it. And he’s just going to keep pushing and keep pushing because that’s what we’re all built for and that’s what he’s been built for."

7:50 p.m. ET, January 3, 2023

Hamlin's uncle describes football player in the hospital room

From CNN's Adrienne Broaddus

Damar Hamlin’s uncle Dorrian Glenn said his nephew is “flipped over on his stomach” in the hospital to help with the blood on his lungs.

Doctors said that Hamlin is on his stomach to help take the pressure off the lungs, so they don’t have to work as hard, Glenn told CNN on Tuesday.

The next step is to get Hamlin, who is still sedated on a ventilator, to breathe on his own, he added.

4:08 p.m. ET, January 4, 2023

Damar Hamlin still sedated a day after collapsing from a cardiac arrest on the field, uncle tells CNN

From CNN's Adrienne Broaddus, David Close, Elizabeth Wolfe, Jason Hanna and Homero De la Fuente

A general view of the University of Cincinnati Medical Center is pictured on January 02. (Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin still was sedated Tuesday night after he suffered a cardiac arrest Monday during an NFL game, his uncle Dorrian Glenn told CNN outside of the University of Cincinnati hospital.

"I'm not a crier, but I've never cried so hard in my life. Just to know, like, my nephew basically died on the field and they brought him back to life," Glenn said Tuesday.
"They sedated him just to give a better chance for him to just continue to heal better. We are just taking it day by day. It seems like he's trending upwards in a positive way," Glenn said, asking people to continue to pray for his nephew.

Hamlin's heartbeat was restored on the field as staff tended to him, the Bills have said, before he was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Hamlin was resuscitated only once, a family spokesman clarified Wednesday, not twice, as his uncle told CNN on Tuesday.

Hamlin still is in critical condition after the 24-year-old collapsed on the field during Monday night's game in Cincinnati, his team said Tuesday, a stunning moment that left players weeping, praying and embracing as their teammate was taken away by ambulance. Hamlin spent the night in the intensive care unit at the medical center, where he remained Tuesday, the team said.

Editor’s Note: This story had been updated to reflect the number of times Hamlin was resuscitated based on information from a family spokesperson and his uncle. Read the latest update here.

7:52 p.m. ET, January 3, 2023

Buffalo Bills players and staff still processing what they witnessed Monday night

From CNN's Coy Wire

Buffalo Bills players and staff are still processing what they witnessed Monday night when safety Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest and collapsed on the field mid-game against the Cincinnati Bengals, according to a source within the team.

The Bills didn't land in Buffalo until 3:30 a.m. ET on Tuesday after they watched their teammate need to have his heartbeat restored on the field.

“Everyone is exhausted," the source told CNN.

It comes on top of a series of difficult situations faced by the team, including having to deal with the mass shooting which killed 10 people and wounded three at a Buffalo grocery store in May, the deaths of at least 39 people in Erie County, New York, due to the Buffalo blizzard, having their November home game moved to Detroit and getting stuck in Chicago during Christmas time, the source said.

As for Hamlin, the Bills are in a "wait-and-see mode," including the team's medical staff, the source said.

The Bills have not discussed any specific ways to help the family through this time as they are hoping there will be recovery, the source said.

The team is still determining how it will handle its typical, weekly media availability.

As of now, it is a day-to-day determination. "We will see what the appetite might be for anyone to speak,” the source added.

7:54 p.m. ET, January 3, 2023

All 32 NFL teams change Twitter profile picture to "Pray For Damar"

From CNN's Wayne L. Sterling

All 32 NFL teams have changed their Twitter profile pictures to support Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, who suffered a cardiac arrest and collapsed on the field during Monday night’s game in Cincinnati.

The profile picture reads "Pray for Damar" along with Hamlin's jersey number 3.

8:23 p.m. ET, January 3, 2023

How Hamlin collapse evokes chilling similarities to Danish soccer player Christian Eriksen's ordeal

From CNN's Ben Church

It’s been over 18 months since Christian Eriksen collapsed on the pitch at Euro 2020 after suffering a cardiac arrest.

The Danish midfielder received life-saving treatment during his country’s game against Finland in June 2021, eventually being resuscitated and taken to hospital.

The players on the pitch, those inside the stadium and fans around the world held their breath as Eriksen’s teammates linked arms to hide his fight for survival.

They were scenes that bore similarities with Monday night when Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field.

Like Eriksen, Hamlin also suffered a cardiac arrest. According to the Bills, his heartbeat was restored on the field and the 24-year-old remains in a “critical condition” at a Cincinnati hospital.

Buffalo Bills team trainers got to Hamlin within 10 seconds of his collapse, similar to the team doctors who had saved Eriksen’s life.

Read more here.