Several players from the Las Vegas Raiders and the Kansas City Chiefs prayed on the field Saturday evening at the conclusion of the matchup between the two teams following Buffalo Bills Safety Damar Hamlin’s medical emergency during a game earlier this week.
Fox Sports reported that players from both teams wore athletic gear that featured statements like “Love for Damar” and “Hamlin Strong” as a way of showing support prior to kickoff.
The report said that the first digit of the 30-yard lines at Allegiant Stadium were painted blue because that was the Buffalo Bills’ color. The stadium announcer also led fans and players to cheer for Hamlin.
“Putting love into the world comes back 3xs as much… thankful for everyone who has reached out and prayed,” Hamlin tweeted during the game. “This will make me stronger on the road to recovery, keep praying for me!”
At the end of the game, several of the players were spotted praying at the center field.
“Final score that truly matters: Faith wins,” Fox News host Harris Faulkner tweeted. “@Chiefs @Raiders together in prayer. #nfl #DamarStrong.”
Final score that truly matters: Faith wins. @Chiefs @Raiders together in prayer. #nfl #DamarStrong pic.twitter.com/c2DXneF6Al
— HARRISFAULKNER (@HARRISFAULKNER) January 8, 2023
Hamlin collapsed with about six minutes left in the first quarter of this week’s Monday Night Football game after he tackled Cincinnati Bengals receiver Tee Higgins following a 13-yard catch. After the tackle, Hamlin got up, took a step backward, and fell to the ground.
Dr. Timothy A. Pritts and Dr. William Knight, two of the doctors at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center treating Hamlin, held a press conference Thursday to give an update on his health status.
The doctors said that Hamlin was able to move his hands and feet and was able to communicate through writing, but they said it was too early to know if he would make a full recovery.
“When he asked did we win, the answer is, yes, you know, Damar, you won, you’ve won the game of life,” Pritts said.
“We know that he’s home and that appears that all cylinders are firing within his brain,” Pritts said. “Which is greatly gratifying for all of us, for the nurses and respiratory therapists and caregivers as for his family and for everybody else beyond.”
When the doctors were asked about what caused Hamlin to go into cardiac arrest, they said that they do not know, but that answers could emerge in the future.
“The answer to that is that workup is ongoing,” Dr. William Knight answered. “We do not have definitive answers as to the etiology of the arrest at this time and that tests will continue to be ongoing as he continues to progress.”