Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin thanked fans for their overwhelming love when he posted on social media for the first time since suffering cardiac arrest in an NFL game. The Bills said that Hamlin is making progress, yet remains in a critical condition.
The Las Vegas Raiders and the Kansas City Chiefs showed support for Hamlin in the first game since his collapse. Players wore 'Love for Damar 3' T-shirts during their warm-ups.
24-year-old Hamlin, who collapsed on the field during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals, wrote on Instagram: "When you put real love out into the world it comes back to you three times as much.
"The love has been overwhelming, but I'm thankful for every single person that prayed for me and reached out. If you know me you know this is only going to make me stronger. On a long road - keep praying for me."
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes wore a top with a graphic of the Bills player and 'Hamlin strong' written on it before their final regular season game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Hamlin's name and his number - three - was displayed on screens inside and outside the stadium, while the '3' on the 30-yard mark had a painted blue outline, as it is one of the Bills' colours.
The Chiefs won 31-13 to secure top seed in the American Football Conference and a first-round bye in the play-offs. They end the regular season with a 14-3 record and are looking for their third Super Bowl appearance in four seasons.
Mahomes said: "This week it's been hard for a lot of guys. But to have him being able to talk and be able to be with his family, it gave us that motivation that we can come out here and still enjoy this game that we all love.
"Hopefully, he can continue to get better and better and know that we are all still praying for him. We all send love to him and hopefully he is back on the field sooner rather than later."
Hamlin has had his breathing tube removed and in a tweet the Bills cited his doctors by saying his neurologic function remains intact and that he has been able to talk to his family and care team. The NFL cancelled the Bills' game against the Bengals in the wake of the incident.
NFL owners subsequently approved changes to the AFC play-off structure given the outcome of the game would have affected play-off seedings, with both sides already having secured post-season spots. Hamlin, who has been in the intensive care unit at the University of Cincinnati Medical Centre, joined a meeting with his team via Facetime on Friday and said "Love you, boys".
He suffered cardiac arrest after tackling Bengals receiver Tee Higgins. Hamlin fell on his back to the ground after the collision and received more than 30 minutes of on-the-field medical care, during which he was resuscitated once, according to the player's friend and marketing agent Jordon Rooney.
Support for the second-year Bills player has poured in since the accident. A GoFundMe page for a toy drive launched by Hamlin has amassed more than $7m (£5.9m).
Several NFL players have donated to the cause, including Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady and Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson. Hamlin was drafted to the NFL in 2021 from the University of Pittsburgh, where he played college football.
