Hamlin Cheers on Bills-Dolphins Playoff From Home: ‘My Heart Is With My Guys’

Hamlin Cheers on Bills-Dolphins Playoff From Home: ‘My Heart Is With My Guys’
Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin (31) before an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans in Nashville, Tenn., on Oct. 18, 2021. John Amis/AP Photo
Bill Pan
Updated:

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, who suffered cardiac arrest and collapsed on the field earlier this month, on Sunday took to Twitter to cheer his team’s wild-card playoff game against the Miami Dolphins.

“My heart is with my guys as they compete today!” Hamlin wrote on Twitter on Sunday afternoon before the kickoff, alongside a video of himself greeting a crowd of fans during the Bills’ last game against the Dolphins in the snow-covered Highmark Stadium.

“Supporting from home as I focus on my recovery,” he added. “Nothing I want more than to be out there with them!”

The Bills, in their recent games, have been wearing No. 3 Hamlin patches on their jerseys raising three fingers in the closing minutes to show support for their recovering teammate.

The post comes after Bills linebacker Matt Milano on Saturday shared a photo on Instagram, showing a smiling Hamlin embracing another member of the NFL team at the Orchard Park facility. Hamlin appeared to be standing upright on his own.

The 24-year-old Hamlin on Monday was discharged from the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where he spent a week under intensive care since he collapsed during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Jan. 2. He was transferred to the Buffalo General Medical Center the same day.

On Wednesday, the Buffalo Bills announced in a statement that Hamlin has recovered well enough to return home.

“We have completed a series of tests and evaluations, and in consultation with the team physicians, we are confident that Damar can be safely discharged to continue his rehabilitation at home and with the Bills,” the team said.

During the first quarter of the Bills-Bengals game, Hamlin make a tackle of Cincinnati wide receiver Tee Higgins, stood up, adjusted his helmet, and fell back to the ground. First responders performed CPR and used an automated external defibrillator on him on-field before rushing him to the hospital by ambulance.

The game was promptly paused and ultimately ruled a no contest.

In the days that followed Hamlin’s collapse, which was seen by millions of television viewers, more than $8.9 million in donations poured into an online charity fundraiser started by the second-year NFL player. The fundraiser’s initial goal was to get just $2,500 to support a toy drive in his community.

Hamlin will be using the money to “support young people through education and sports,” reported The Associated Press. He will also use proceeds from the sale of new T-shirts, emblazoned with “Did We Win?” along with his hands in the shape of a heart, to raise money for the trauma center in Cincinnati that initially treated him.

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