Getty Image
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor spoke to the media on Wednesday, marking the first time that he’s spoken to reporters following Monday night’s tragic game between the Bengals and Buffalo Bills.
During the first half of the game, Bills safety Damar Hamlin had to be taken off the field in an ambulance after he suffered from cardiac arrest. The game was subsequently called off.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, an incredibly eloquent Taylor discussed the scary situation from his point of view and also revealed what Bills head coach Sean McDermott said to him when the two spoke shortly following Hamlin’s scary situation.
“’I need to be at the hospital for Damar. I shouldn’t be coaching this game,'” Taylor says McDermott said to him on the field in the immeidate aftermath of the incident. “That, to me, provided all the clarity.”
“I really felt Sean McDermott led in that moment. He was there for his players. He processed it the right way, which was incredibly difficult, and really helped us get to the solution we needed to get to,” he continued.
More Zac Taylor: “I really felt Sean McDermott led in that moment. He was there for his players. He processed it the right way, which was incredibly difficult, and really helped us get to the solution we needed to get to.”
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) January 4, 2023
Taylor also lauded the response of all the medical personnel that had a hand in reviving Hamlin:
“They were prepared. They gave Damar the best chance. I was really impressed and thankful for the work they put in to be ready for moments like that.”
As of Wednesday morning, while Hamlin remains in critical condition, there’s currently “cautious optimism” (as per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on First Take) surrounding the 24-year-old’s status. Furthermore, a representative for the family said that doctors saw “what they hoped to see” on Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning.
Since Hamlin’s cardiac arrest during the Monday Night Football game between the Bengals and Bills, his GoFundMe page has exploded and has now raised over $6 million at the time of this writing.
On Tuesday night, Hamlin’s family released the following official statement thanking fans around the country for their support:
“On behalf of our family, we want to express our sincere gratitude for the love and support show to Damar during this challenging time. We are deeply moved by the prayers, kind words, ad donations from fans around the country,” the family’s official statement reads.
“We also want to acknowledge the dedicated first responders and healthcare professionals at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center who have provided exceptional care to Damar. We feel so blessed to be part of the Buffalo Bills organization and to have their support. We also want to thank Coach Taylor and the Bengals for everything they’ve done.”
“Your generosity and compassion mean the world to us. Please keep Damar in your prayers. We will release updates as soon as we have them,” the statement concludes.
If you would like to donate to Damar Hamlin’s GoFundMe — which has raised over $6.5 million at the time of this writing — you can find it at this link.
RELATED: Shannon Sharpe Returns To ‘Undisputed’, Flames Skip Bayless In Extremely Tense Standoff