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

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) and offensive tackle Ryan Bates (71) react as medical personnel attend to Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin (3) during the game against the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals on January 2, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The NFL showdown on Monday between the Cincinnati Bengals and Buffalo Bills was the most-watched “Monday Night Football” telecast in ESPN history, according to preliminary ratings.

The game was postponed in the first quarter after Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest and collapsed on the field,

Nielsen said Wednesday that the broadcast had an average of 23,788,000 viewers across ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 from approximately 8:30 pm to 10:09 pm. The massive audience makes it the most-watched “Monday Night Football” broadcast since the NFL moved the series to ESPN in 2006, surpassing the previous record of 21.8 million viewers for a Packers-Vikings game in 2009.

During game play, ESPN averaged 21.1 million viewers, according to Nielsen ratings. That audience then grew to 23.9 million viewers between 9 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. when ESPN aired news coverage of Hamlin’s collapse.

An ESPN spokesperson told CNN on Wednesday that, given the special circumstances around Monday’s game, it was not clear whether the viewership numbers would be factored into the season average or used for historical purposes.

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Indianapolis Colts rookie safety Rodney Thomas II detailed visiting his childhood friend and high school teammate Damar Hamlin in the hospital while speaking to reporters on Wednesday.

Thomas said he had no idea what had happened to Hamlin until his dad Facetimed him. Thomas said he got in his car and drove to the University of Cincinnati medical center to be with Hamlin.

“I had a goal,” Thomas said. “I knew where I was going, so I just got on the road and I just went. Laser-focused.”

Thomas said he held Hamlin’s hand and spoke to him.

“I know he could hear me,” Thomas said. “Even if he couldn’t hear me, it didn’t matter. I said what I had to say.”

Thomas met Hamlin at Central Catholic High School in Pittsburgh where the two were teammates and also became close friends, according to the Colts website. Thomas said he and Hamlin talked every day and even spoke before Monday’s game.  

The Colts are scheduled to play the Houston Texans on Sunday. Thomas said he will have Hamlin on his mind during the game. 

“I’m putting it right where it’s gotta be — right in my mind and playing for him, playing for what he represents,” Thomas said.

Thomas added that he has “no doubt” Hamlin will walk out of the hospital on his own.

Thomas was drafted in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL draft by the Colts out of Yale University. 

The pregame “60-minute meeting” among medical teams and NFL officials was vital to the response when Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed during Monday night’s game, NFL Chief Medical Officer Dr. Allan Sills said.

“If you ask me, the 60-minute meeting is the most important thing we do on Sundays,” Sills told CNN on Wednesday.

“Fans don’t ever see that meeting. It happens underneath the stands,” Sills said. “It’s part of the reason why, in this tragic moment on Monday night, we could have a quick, effective and really transformational response.”

Sills said that the main focus now is on treating Hamlin but that his medical team will continue to search for answers, including possible causes like commotio cordis and myocarditis.

“Many times in these cases, players don’t necessarily have a preexisting history or a preexisting abnormality, and cardiac arrest can occur without any warning,” he said.

Sills also said questions of safety are relevant to him as a parent of four and grandfather of nine.

“I let my children and my grandchildren play sports because I think there are tremendous benefits. But what I want to know as a parent is: is that sports league prepared? Do they have an emergency action plan? Do they have bystanders or people who are trained in emergency procedures? Do they have a defibrillator present? To me, those are the key questions, and I also want to make sure the league or the team they’re associated with promotes an atmosphere of safety,” he said.

President Joe Biden talks briefly with reporters as he walks on the South Lawn of the White House January 4, in Washington, DC.

President Joe Biden said he has spoken with Damar Hamlin’s mother and father “at length,” but did not provide any details of the conversation.

Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Tuesday confirmed that Biden had seen “the horrific news of Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest.”

Dr. Allen Sills speaks during a media call on Wednesday, January 4.

The NFL is investigating every possible cause behind the cardiac arrest of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, which resulted in his collapse mid-game against the Cincinnati Bengals, according to the NFL’s chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills. 

Commotio cordis happens when severe trauma to the chest disrupts the heart’s electrical charge, causing dangerous fibrillations. 

Sills said it is a diagnosis of exclusion, meaning it might be the diagnosis if doctors don’t find any other causes.

Doctors will look for any potential congenital or other abnormalities with Hamlin’s heart, he said. Every player gets a physical before each season, and doctors take a detailed medical history, which includes American Heart Association screening guidelines related to potential cardiac issues.

Sills said any time a player is evacuated from the field, the NFL and its medical experts do a detailed review of what happened. They will also look specifically at the role of protective equipment. 

Currently, players’ shoulder pads typically fit in an area that covers the sternum, he said.

Sills said that in some cases, the medical team will not be able to determine what caused the problem.

Regardless of the cause, what helped in this situation was that the NFL had the right people and equipment in place to provide “an extremely rapid response,” he said.”

Tom Brady and Russell Wilson

Multiple NFL teams and players have donated to Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin’s GoFundMe toy drive charity.

Indianapolis Colts and owner Jim Irsay donated $25,003, the NFL team told CNN Wednesday. 

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and the team contributed $18,003. The Patriots wrote on Twitter Wednesday, “In Jewish culture, 18 symbolizes “chai” or “life”, while 3 represents Hamlin’s number.”

Also donating were the Houston Texans who gave $10,003 and the Washington Commanders who gave $5,000, both teams told CNN.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady as well as Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson and his wife Ciara donated $10,000 apiece.

New Orleans quarterback Andy Dalton and his wife, JJ, gave $3,000 to Hamlin’s charity.

Dalton talked about his special bond with the Buffalo Bills’ fan base.

Fantasy leagues are donating too, according to a GoFundMe.

The GoFundMe organized by Hamlin has raised more than $6.5 million.  

Skip Bayless spent a third straight day defending his controversial tweet about Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, this time during a tense exchange Wednesday with his Fox Sports talk show co-host Shannon Sharpe.

Sharpe, a former NFL player and member of the NFL Hall of Fame, returned to the duo’s talk show “Undefeated” Wednesday after missing Tuesday’s show. His absence followed co-host Bayless’ widely criticized tweet questioning whether the NFL should have ended the Bills’ game Monday against the Cincinnati Bengals after Hamlin collapsed on the field. Hamlin went into cardiac arrest after a hit to his chest area.

During the incident Monday, Bayless tweeted: “no doubt the NFL is considering postponing the rest of this game - but how? This late in the season, a game of this magnitude is crucial to the regular-season outcome … which suddenly seems so irrelevant.”

Bayless later followed up with a tweet, saying the controversy surrounding that tweet was a misunderstanding of his intention.

On Wednesday, the hosts of “Undisputed” immediately got into an argument at the beginning of the show.

“I’ve never seen anybody have to be revived and fight for their life on the field,” Sharpe said during his opening monologue. “Skip tweeted something, and although I disagreed with the tweet, and hopefully Skip would take it down. But I wanted…”

Bayless immediately interrupted, saying “I’m not going to take it down, because I stand by what I tweeted.”

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New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll coaches from the sidelines during the Giants' game against the Indianapolis Colts on January 1.

New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll spoke fondly about Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin on Wednesday.

“Lot of us have been around Damar. We offer our prayers to him, his family, to the people in that organization. They’ve been through a lot,” the former Bills offensive coordinator said at a news conference. 

Daboll arrived at the news conference wearing a Giants hat with the number three stitched on it to honor Hamlin, the team said.

“It’s been difficult the last couple of days,” he said on returning to work. “It’s a relationship business and when something like that happens to people that mean a lot to you or even if you don’t know him, you have just a great amount of respect for, it really doesn’t really matter what job you do, but having been around the young man, know him, know the type of person he is, that’s tough.”

The NFL hasn’t discussed whether Sunday’s New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills game will be postponed.

“We have not had that discussion. We have literally … just constantly talking to the clubs and in particular, the Bills,” Troy Vincent, NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations said at a league virtual news conference on Wednesday. “It’s really important that we just keep the pulse of the coach and the players and don’t get in front of that. 

Vincent said, “Everything is being considered,” when asked what options the league had in order for the Bills and Cincinnati Bengals game to take place — from changing schedules to possibly pushing back the playoffs a week or eliminating the bye week ahead of the Super Bowl.

“Those guiding principles that took us into the 2020 season with Covid, all of those things will be things that guide us through this conversation and making sure the proper equity is in place.”

He added: “It may not be perfect but it will allow those that are participating who have earned that right to play to continue to play.”

Troy Vincent, NFL executive vice president of football operations, speaks to the media May 22, 2019.

An emotional Troy Vincent, the NFL’s Executive Vice President of Football Operations and former NFL cornerback, said he wanted to be clear about the report of Bills-Bengals players being told to prepare for a restart of the Monday night game after Damar Hamlin was taken off the field by ambulance.

On Tuesday’s teleconference, Vincent sternly refuted the suggestion players were told to warm up after Hamlin was hurt. “We never, frankly, it never crossed our mind to talk about warming up to resume play. That’s ridiculous,” he said earlier this week.

Vincent continued on Wednesday, “I don’t know who said it (the reporter who asked about return to play on Tuesday morning) and I really don’t care. But the only thing that matter to myself, the team here, the folks in the stadium, the coaches, was the health and wellness of Damar. And getting those coaches back to the locker room so they could look their players in their eyes and see who they are.

“They were hurting. There was a lot of pain. Talking to the commissioner (Roger Goodell), communicating with everyone, it was just important…we just couldn’t play!”

Some more context: Earlier on Wednesday, ESPN said it is sticking by its reporting that the NFL had initially planned to resume Monday’s football game after Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest and collapsed on the field — a claim the NFL vehemently denies.

The NFL postponed Monday’s game following the on-field injury. Although initially criticized that the announcement of the game’s postponement took more than an hour, the NFL was ultimately praised for its consequential decision to call off the contest. 

ESPN said in a statement Wednesday: “There was constant communication in real time between ESPN and league and game officials. As a result of that, we reported what we were told in the moment and immediately updated fans as new information was learned. This was an unprecedented, rapidly evolving circumstance. All night long, we refrained from speculation.”

Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL’s chief medical officer, complimented the immediate response by medical personnel after Bills safety Damar Hamlin was injured Monday night.

“It’s certainly not an exaggeration to say that the skilled and the immediate response by all of these talented caregivers prevented a very tragic outcome at that moment,” Sills said.

Sills, talking on a media call on Wednesday, did not provide a medical update on Hamlin’s condition.

An ambulance transports Damar Hamlin out of Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on January 2.

Troy Vincent, NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations, also praised the first responders for their actions.  

“My greatest fear has flashed in front of me that particular moment but to the goodness and grace of God, Damar is still here and he’s still fighting,” Vincent said during the league’s virtual news conference on Wednesday.

Vincent was not on camera for the media call, but his voice was full of emotion.

He added: “[The league’s] emergency action plan was executed to perfection, by individuals who rehearsed and practiced and trained for in-stadium health emergency and Dr. Sills and to the medical professionals, first responders to physicians to trainers, the EMTs that evening was outstanding. You gave our brother, Damar, another day to live, another chance to fight.”

Damar Hamlin remains in critical condition with signs of improvement, the Buffalo Bills tweeted Wednesday.

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Denmark's players react as paramedics attend to midfielder Christian Eriksen after he collapsed on the pitch during the UEFA EURO 2020 Group B football match June 12, 2021, in Copenhagen.

Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Dion Dawkins told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer that he was “truly blessed that we didn’t have to keep playing” in Monday’s game against the the Cincinnati Bengals after Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed.

However, just over 18 months ago, a major international tournament soccer match between Denmark and Finland did resume after Dane Christian Eriksen collapsed on the pitch at Euro 2020 after suffering a cardiac arrest.

The Danish midfielder received life-saving treatment during the game in June 2021, eventually being resuscitated and taken to hospital.

The match was then restarted later that same evening after a request was made from players of both teams to finish the match.

Eriksen was conscious when he left the pitch, even waving to the fans as he was carried away on a stretcher, and a statement from the Danish Football Federation soon afterward confirmed he was awake in the hospital and awaiting further examination.

In contrast, Hamlin remains sedated on a ventilator as doctors work toward getting him to breathe on his own, according to his uncle.

Despite the decision to resume the match being taken by the players, Denmark head coach Kasper Hjulmand admitted the next day he thought it was the “wrong decision.”

“I have the feeling that we shouldn’t have played and wrong that the players had to decide. I’m really proud of the way the world reacted to this incident,” he added.

“It’s often about money, but yesterday we saw what football is all about — compassion and love” he said.

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel stands on the sidelines during Miami's game against the Cincinnati Bengals on September 29.

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said his heart breaks with what Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin is going through.

“It’s hard for me to see all that hurt. I don’t pretend to know exactly what it feels like because I wasn’t there and that would be insulting,” McDaniel said at Wednesday’s news conference. 

McDaniel said one sees the “best face of humanity” when tragedies happen.

“There seems to be a pervasive theme when tragedy occurs, is for whatever reason, you end up seeing glimmer of the best face of humanity… That’s a slight solace to an otherwise terrible event,” McDaniel said.

ESPN is sticking by its reporting that the NFL had initially planned to resume Monday’s football game after Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest and collapsed on the field — a claim the NFL vehemently denies.

The NFL postponed Monday’s game between the Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals following the on-field injury. Although initially criticized that the announcement of the game’s postponement took more than an hour, the NFL was ultimately praised for its consequential decision to call off the contest. 

But whether the NFL had at any point after Hamlin’s devastating injury planned to resume the game remains a subject of dispute and controversy.

ESPN reported during Monday’s telecast after Hamlin was taken off the field in an ambulance that the first quarter would resume after both teams were given a five-minute warm-up notice. That never materialized, and the league later said it never considered restarting the game.

“We never, frankly, it never crossed our mind to talk about warming up to resume play,” said Troy Vincent, NFL executive vice president of football operations, at a press conference Monday night. “That’s ridiculous. It’s insensitive. And that’s not a place that that we should ever be in.” 

Vincent said he didn’t know where that report would have come from.

But ESPN, in a statement Wednesday, said it is sticking by its reporting.

Joe Buck, ESPN’s Monday Night Football announcer, told the New York Times in an interview Tuesday that he received reporting from John Parry, ESPN’s officiating analyst. Buck said Parry “is in an open line of communication with the league office in New York.”

The family of Damar Hamlin is thankful for the support that fans and the NFL community have shown since his collapse on the field Monday night, according to Hamlin’s friend and marketing representative Jordon Rooney.

Rooney told CNN that Hamlin’s parents are “worried about their son,” adding that “they are focused on his well-being. But I think that they are optimistic.” 

The Buffalo Bills safety suffered cardiac arrest on the field during a game with the Cincinnati Bengals Monday. 

Bengals Coach Zac Taylor and his wife have also offered support to the family, Rooney said. 

Hamlin’s relatives have received a bounty of meals while they are at the hospital, he added. “We are working with some restaurants in Cincinnati. To be honest, we’ve had to turn down meals, so many people are wanting to provide meals,” Rooney said. 

The family is “incredibly thankful of everything that has been out there, all of the support that they’ve gotten. It’s made this just a little bit easier for them,” he said. “They’re very grateful people and it’s meant a lot to them.”

Terry Totten is interviewed by CNN Wednesday morning. 

Damar Hamlin’s high school football coach Terry Totten told CNN this morning that his reaction to watching his former player’s injury on Monday night was “complete horror.”

Totten, who recently retired as head football coach at Central Catholic High School in Pittsburgh, said that the outpouring of support he has received “is related to the way Damar handled himself off the field.” 

“He was so steady. I’ve said that word so many times the past couple days. He was even-keeled, low key,” Totten said.

Totten added that Hamlin, who he said fought through adversity from injuries he suffered during high school and college, was “very mature beyond his years.”

“I think he hosted in his heart the dream that so many kids do, of playing in the National Football League … he felt sure he would do it,” Totten said.

Damar Hamlin (3) makes a tackle during a WPIAL Class AAA football championship game November 21, 2014, in Pittsburgh.

While at Central Catholic, Hamlin played in a state championship team for Totten and is one of four former players of the ex-coach to play in the NFL.

“This place is a diverse place. It’s kids from different neighborhoods and different socioeconomic backgrounds, but we consider ourselves a brotherhood, and they certainly formed that,” Totten said. 

He continued: “Damar was key in reaching across lines … always willing to help a lesser student, a lesser athlete, just someone to look to. In his older years, he took up the mantle of that. He was a real treat to be around and to coach.”

Asked about the prospect of Hamlin returning to the NFL at some point, Totten said, “If there’s a road, a path, a chance, Damar will find it.” 

The New England Patriots have postponed Wednesday’s scheduled media availability due to Damar Hamlin-related circumstances until Thursday, the team said.

The Patriots are scheduled to face the Bills in Buffalo on Sunday. The Bills are holding meetings and a walk-through Wednesday.

A representative for Damar Hamlin’s family said the NFL player was resuscitated just one time following his collapse on the football field on Monday night, friend and marketing representative Jordon Rooney told CNN Wednesday.  

The Buffalo Bills tweeted shortly after the collapse saying “his heartbeat was restored on the field.” 

On Tuesday, Hamlin’s uncle had told CNN and ESPN that the Buffalo Bills safety had been resuscitated twice – once on the field and again at the hospital – but Rooney said the uncle misspoke. 

“There’s a lot going on,” he said. “It’s hard for anyone to keep up with, who isn’t in the medical community.”  

“His uncle’s incredibly supportive of his, of his nephew… I think that, you know, he just wanted to do his part to share some good news and I think just misspoke,” Rooney said.  

CNN has reached out to UC Health in Cincinnati several times. The hospital is not releasing any information on Hamlin or providing interviews with his medical staff. 

Rooney said he remains concerned. “I am worried about my friend,” he said, adding he has seen Damar since the collapse.

Tee Higgins, the Cincinnati Bengals player involved in the tackle with Damar Hamlin before he collapsed on the field Monday night, has reached out to the family, according to Hamlin’s friend and marketing representative Jordon Rooney.

Rooney told CNN that both of Hamlin’s parents are “frustrated with backlash towards Tee Higgins.” 

“You can’t support Damar and critique Tee in this situation because Damar’s family is not looking at it that way at all,” he said.  

Higgins tweeted shortly after midnight on Tuesday following the game, sending prayers and thoughts to Hamlin and his family.