The news for Damar Hamlin keeps getting better.
On Friday, Hamlin’s breathing tube was removed, and he was able to communicate with his doctors and family members. On top of that, he FaceTimed with his Bills teammates, who promptly gave him a standing ovation.
But that’s not the only instance in which Hamlin has used his smartphone to communicate with the world. The Fan’s Josh Rowntree noticed that Hamlin commented on an Instagram post from the account of the University of Pittsburgh’s women's basketball team. Appropriately, Hamlin used fire emojis.
The defensive back attended Pittsburgh from 2016-20, playing five seasons for the Panthers on the gridiron. A four-star recruit out of Pittsburgh Central Catholic, Hamlin was named team captain for his senior season, and earned a spot on the All-ACC second-team after leading the Panthers in tackles.
Heading into his senior year, Hamlin started a toy drive for a daycare facility run in Western Pennsylvania by his mother. As of Friday, the GoFundMe campaign has soared above $7 million.
Hamlin loves Pittsburgh, and Pittsburgh loves him back.