Bills, Buffalo fans show love for Damar Hamlin and team's medical staff in return to field

Zac Al-Khateeb

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Bills, Buffalo fans show love for Damar Hamlin and team's medical staff in return to field image

The Bills are back and ready to play after spending the week focused on anything but football.

The health emergency involving Buffalo safety Damar Hamlin — who suffered cardiac arrest during his team's "Monday Night Football" matchup vs. the Bengals — has dominated the NFL discourse. The sports world turned its focus to Cincinnati, where Hamlin received life-saving treatment both on the field at Paycor Stadium and at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

Players from around the NFL and other sports leagues have sent messages of encouragement to the 24-year-old since Monday night. Hamlin awoke from sedation by midweek and had his breathing tube removed soon after. He spoke with teammates via video conference on Thursday.

MORE: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman & ESPN crew pay tribute to Damar Hamlin with small, but poignant, gesture

As play around the NFL resumed for the final weekend of the regular season, Hamlin was at the forefront of everyone's mind, and nods to the safety and his No. 3 were present at every game beginning with Saturday's doubleheader.

That was especially true in Buffalo, where players and fans — even NFL commissioner Roger Goodell — paid tribute to Hamlin from the time they arrived at Highmark Stadium ahead of the regular-season finale vs. New England.

Bills quarterback Josh Allen arrived at work wearing a hat and sweatshirt bearing Hamlin's No. 3, a gesture that brought a response via Twitter from Hamlin.

Allen and other Bills players made it clear that Buffalo was playing for Hamlin on Sunday, as the team donned No. 3 patches on the front of their jerseys for the game against the Patriots:

Highmark Stadium also invited the crowd at Orchard Park, N.Y., to celebrate Hamlin's recovery:

Here's an incredible on-field view of the Bills entered the field, as well:

MORE: What to know about Damar Hamlin's Chasing M's Foundation and how to donate

While Hamlin was the focus of attention, the Bills' medical staff and first responders who worked to save the player's life on the field in Cincinnati also saw an outpouring of support.

Zac Al-Khateeb

Zac Al-Khateeb Photo

Zac Al-Khateeb has been part of The Sporting News team since 2015 after earning his Bachelor's (2013) and Master's (2014) degrees in journalism at the University of Alabama. Prior to joining TSN, he covered high school sports and general news in Alabama. A college sports specialist, Zac has been a voter for the Biletnikoff Award and Heisman Trophy since 2020.