(SportsRadio 610) - The NFL came to a halt Monday night after Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field in Cincinnati from cardiac arrest.
As of this writing, Hamlin, 24, remains in critical condition with signs of improvement, the Buffalo Bills said in an update Wednesday. He is expected to remain in intensive care.
The Texans have four players that played with Hamlin dating back to his high school years.
Rookie defensive tackle Kurt Hinish played high school football with Hamlin back in Pennsylvania at Central Catholic High School in Pittsburg and shared his thoughts on his former teammate fighting for his life.
“He’s a great football player but even a better person,” Hinish said. “He’s a super family oriented kind of kid, obviously chose to stay home in Pittsburgh and go to the university of Pittsburgh, set a great example for his younger brother. Everybody else that he grew up with in that community, I know he means a lot to them.”
Texans offensive lineman Jimmy Morrissey spent five seasons with Hamlin while the two attended and played for the University of Pittsburgh.
Morrissey spoke Wednesday afternoon of Hamlin's kindness.
“He’s a great competitor, loves the game of football and is just a great guy,” Morrissey said.
Hamlin played with Texans veterans Jerry Hughes and Mario Addison last season in Buffalo.
Hughes said it’s been difficult t to watch a former teammate start their career the way Hamlin had, with so much success, dealing with such a challenge at his age.
“It’s been real tough the past few days, just to watch someone who I had the opportunity to watch him start his career in the league,” Hughes said. “D-Ham is always someone who's always just been working hard and doing everything right. And so you really hate to see these kinds of tragic events unfold right now for him.”
The Houston Texans donated $10,003 to Hamlin's fundraiser, The Chasing M's Foundation Community Toy Drive on Wednesday morning.
Since Hamlin’s charity was found by the public, following his collapse on the field Monday night, his 2020 GoFundMe for a Pittsburgh toy drive has surpassed $6.2 million as of Wednesday morning. The original goal two years ago was set at $2,500.
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Shaun Bijani has spent the last 16 years covering the Houston sports scene for SportsRadio 610. Follow him on Twitter @ShaunBijani.
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