NFL Quick Takes: Bigger Than Football
Football has taken a back seat this week to the devastating Damar Hamlin situation.
Happy Tuesday, everyone.
I normally look forward to this day of the week because it’s the day I jot down all of my takeaways from the week in the NFL. Unfortunately, this week’s edition of NFL Quick Takes will be a little different. To focus on anything other than the health of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin would be tone-deaf and quite frankly, pointless.
In case you missed it, Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest after tackling Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins on Monday night. Hamlin got up after the hit, then immediately collapsed. You can watch the incident below but just a heads up that it’s tough to watch.

It quickly became clear just how dire the situation was. As medical personnel rushed to Hamlin’s side, players on both teams were visibly distraught. The game was a complete afterthought at this point. There was no way either team was in the right state mentally or emotionally to finish the game — nor should they have been — no matter its playoff implications. The NFL made the right call by postponing the matchup indefinitely.

The Bills announced early Tuesday morning that Hamlin’s heartbeat was restored on the field and he was transferred to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center for further testing and treatment. The 24-year-old is listed in critical condition.
Hamlin’s family released a statement around noon on Tuesday, which you can read below.


As we anxiously wait for updates on Hamlin’s status, there is some positive news. Fans have shown their support for Hamlin by donating to the GoFundMe of his charity, The Chasing M’s Foundation, which recently sponsored a toy drive. The drive, which is listed with a goal of $2,500, has raised approximately $4.12 million as of this writing. A much-needed reminder that there are many kind-hearted people in this world.
The donations help to provide gifts for children in Hamlin’s hometown of McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania. Here’s the updated message on the GoFundMe following Hamlin’s medical emergency:
This fundraiser was initially established to support a toy drive for Damar’s community, sponsored by the Chasing M’s Foundation.
However, it has received renewed support in light of Damar’s current battle and we can’t thank all of you enough. Your generosity and compassion mean the world to us.
If you would like to show your support and contribute to Damar’s community initiatives and his current fight, this is the place to do so. This is the only current fund that is being used by the Hamlin Family.
Again, thank you for your thoughts, prayers and generous support during this time.
Damar created The Chasing M’s Foundation to use as a vehicle to bring lasting impact to his community. The foundation supports toy drives, back-to-school drives, kids camps, and more.
If you would like to donate, click here.
Obviously, the penultimate week of the NFL regular season was action-packed and full of noteworthy moments. It just would not sit right with me to share trivial hot takes about the games when there is a player — a brother, son, friend, and teammate — fighting for his life. This serves as a reminder that these are human beings who put their lives on the line playing one of the most violent and dangerous sports for our entertainment. That’s the only NFL take I feel comfortable giving today.
I’ll be back next week when we get back to our regularly-scheduled programming with NFL Quick Takes as well as a full playoff preview. Stay tuned.