Tom Brady Voices Profound Takeaway From Damar Hamlin's On-Field Collapse
On the evening of January 2, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest after he tackled Cincinnati Bengals receiver Tee Higgins, per AP News. After the tackle, Hamlin stood up, adjusted his helmet, and immediately fell back to the ground. Although the exact cause of the cardiac arrest is not yet known, the frontrunner is commotio cordis — a rare occurrence when a hard hit to the chest, in the right place and at the right time, causes the heart to stop beating.
The incident led the NFL to suspend and postpone the game indefinitely. "Our concern is for the player and his well-being," Jeff Miller, NFL executive vice president of communications, public affairs & policy, told ProFootballTalk in a press conference. "At the appropriate time, I'm sure that we'll have a conversation around the next steps regarding the game." Troy Vincent, NFL executive vice president of football operations, said that the players and coaches were "traumatized" by what they saw.
Since the young Bills player was rushed to UC Medical Center, fans — both from Cincinnati and Buffalo — have shown their support. According to Insider, people gathered outside the hospital to pray, put up posters, hang flags, and light candles, sending good vibes to Hamlin and his family. Additionally, current NFL players have kept the safety in their thoughts and prayers, including Tom Brady.
Tom Brady reflects on the dangers of playing football
Since Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field and went into cardiac arrest, current NFL players have been publicly sending love to the 24-year-old football player and his family. According to Pittsburgh Steelers reporter Mike DeFabo, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow led his team to the Bills locker room to check in on the opposing team after the event occurred. "Praying hard ... please be okay man," Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes tweeted.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady was also among those who reflected deeply on the incident. "We're praying for Damar and his family this morning in Tampa," he tweeted. "Moments like this put into perspective what it means to play this game we love." The star NFL player then thanked the medical staff in Buffalo and Cincinnati for their hard work. Brady and his wife Gisele Bündchen recently divorced, and the star quarterback's decision to come out of retirement was reportedly one of the reasons for it. "I don't blame Gisele for saying, 'Okay baby, it's enough,'" Ana Navarro said on "The View," mentioning that Tua Tagovailoa's concussion helped her understand the model's desire for Brady to "be safe" with her and their shared kids.