The Cincinnati Bengals may not have played in this year’s Super Bowl, but the city still was a big part of the festivities.
During a pre-game ceremony on the field at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, the NFL recognized the medical teams who helped save Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin’s life after he collapsed from cardiac arrest during a Jan. 2 game against the Bengals at Paycor Stadium. About 20 members of the medical staff from the University of Cincinnati Medical Center – clad in black and red – stood on the field, clapping and cheering as the camera panned down the line on Feb. 12.
“These heroes work every day to keep their communities safe and also led Damar Hamlin’s medical team during his recovery,” an announcer said over the stadium loudspeaker. “Please give them a warm welcome to Super Bowl LVII.”
That’s when Hamlin, clad in white sunglasses and a blue-and-white letterman-style jacket – appeared from behind the throng, forming a heart with his hands and raising them high above his head while the medical pros clapped him on the back. With genuine affection and joy, the athlete laughed as he embraced his caregivers, engulfed in both hugs and emotion.
It’s been a little over a month since Hamlin collapsed, bringing a terrifying silence to Paycor Stadium. Hamlin went into cardiac arrest after a routine play during the first quarter of the game after colliding with Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins. The Bills’ safety collapsed to the ground and underwent nine minutes of CPR on the field in front of teammates and tens of thousands of fans. Players from both teams looked on in shock, openly weeping and praying while emergency crews worked to restart Hamlin’s heart. He was transported to UC Medical Center’s level 1 trauma center, where he was intubated.
Hamlin spent more than a week undergoing life-saving care in Cincinnati and being celebrated by fans of all stripes before being transferred to a facility in Buffalo.
As he continues to recover, Hamlin has been in the public eye more and more, often with UC Medical Center staff. During the NFL Honors ceremony on Feb. 9, Hamlin, the UC Medical team and other emergency personnel from Jan. 2 were recognized on stage. To the audience, Hamlin recalled meeting a physician who had changed his perspective.
“There was so much uncertainty at the time, and just him coming to me showing that I could live a normal life again, it meant so much to me in the moment,” Hamlin said. “So I want to give a big thank you to him and a special thank you to everyone on this stage for everything they did for me. And thank you to everyone around the country and around the world who prayed for me and hoped for me,” he added. “The journey will continue.”
But the Super Bowl was Hamlin’s biggest appearance of all, naturally. “Ain’t it a blessing?” Hamlin said in one tweet, posting a selfie in front of the full stadium.
Hamlin also posted a photo with LeBron James, the Akron native who just broke the NBA’s all-time scoring record. “The King,” Hamlin said.
Hamlin has not yet been cleared to play football, but doctors speculate that it surely will happen. Dr. Thom Mayer, medical director for the NFL Players Association, “guaranteed” to a caller on SiriusXM’s Doctor Radio that Hamlin will touch turf.
“I guarantee you – I guarantee you, Veronica – that Damar Hamlin will play professional football again.
The Kansas City Chiefs beat the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35 in Super Bowl LVII. The Cincinnati Bengals had lost the AFC championship game to the Chiefs on Jan. 29, propelling Kansas City to the final battle as well as a controversial post-game interview.
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This article appears in Feb 8-21, 2023.