'He touched people in all situations:' McKees Rocks, Pittsburgh community react to Damar Hamlin injury

McKEES ROCKS, Pa. — Outside of the McKees Rocks and Central Catholic High School communities, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin is viewed as an athlete, a number, a pawn on a chessboard in the National Football League.

Within those communities though, as well as the Buffalo community, Hamlin, 24, is so much more: a brother, a son, a friend, a philanthropist, one who is always looking to connect with others and give back to his community. So, seeing Hamlin — a sixth-round pick out of the University of Pittsburgh in 2021— lying motionless on the field at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on Monday night midway through the first quarter was downright terrifying and heartbreaking.

Terrifying situation on football field

Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest after making a tackle on Cincinnati wide receiver Tee Higgins, collapsing on the field before receiving CPR and being taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where on Tuesday afternoon he was sedated and listed in critical condition, according to the Bills.

The scenes that played out in front of millions of viewers Monday night hit close to home for those who know Hamlin well, including longtime Central Catholic head football coach Terry Totten, who retired in early December, and former Central Catholic and University of Pittsburgh teammate Johnny Petrishen.

In fact, Hamlin's longtime friend, high school and college teammate Cal Adomitis, was on the field with Hamlin Monday night as the long snapper for the Bengals.

"It's everybody's worst nightmare to see that unfold," Totten said Tuesday morning. "My thoughts flashed back to that 13-year-old kid who walked into my facility for the first time with his parents. He was looking to improve his future. He was wide-eyed and stepping out onto a new platform, and he achieved it all. He fought through it all and got to a platform he wanted to be.

"You think about the kid, you think about the person, and that's what's critical in that situation."

Hamlin chose to stay close to home

A McKees Rocks native, Hamlin looked to better his football path by heading to Central Catholic to play under Totten. During his time with the Vikings, Hamlin emerged as a key leader for the purple and gold, leading Central Catholic to a state championship in 2015. That year, Hamlin recorded 89 tackles, two interceptions and three fumbles.

What came next for the state's top-rated recruit and four-star prospect showed just who he is. Spurning the likes of Ohio State, Penn State, Clemson, UCLA and Notre Dame, Hamlin chose to stay home at Pitt, aiming to be a role model for not only other local athletes coming up through the system, but for his younger brother, Damir, too.

"We embraced that decision. I'm sitting in the very office where Urban Meyer sat, Clemson sat, Alabama sat. And Damar chose Pittsburgh," Totten said. "It was ingrained in him, his community of McKees Rocks, the Central Catholic community, the city of Pittsburgh. I don't know how many people know this, but he has a very, very young brother who he is very involved with.

"I know it was his family and his ties to the community, and I knew he wanted to get back out in the community and give back, so staying home and playing college football allowed him to do that."

That's who Hamlin is to this day. Giving back and making an impact are important parts of what drove Hamlin throughout his time at Central Catholic, Pitt, and now with the Bills. That decision to stay home and play at Pittsburgh despite larger, better offers at the time, spoke clearly to who he is and how much his community means to him.

Role model for family and community

Family is his ultimate calling, though.

"I wanted to give him that image growing up, that he can look back on and be able to model himself after," Hamlin told GoLongTD.com's Ty Dunne about his brother. "That's something I never had. I had a bunch of examples of what not to do. I want to give him a different example. Me growing up, I always questioned if I was doing the right things. Just because I didn't have anybody to look to, to say like, 'this is the right thing to be doing.' ... I didn't have anybody I could look to or lean on. That's why I stayed home at Pitt. I chose Pitt over everybody. Just for that one reason ― for my brother."

His head coach at Pitt, Pat Narduzzi released the following statement Tuesday: "Damar Hamilton is far more than just a football player. He's a loving son, brother and friend. Damar is a hero to thousands of Pittsburgh kids.

"Damar, we love you. We are praying for you," he said. "Pittsburgh's always had your back. And now it's obvious the entire country has your back, too."

Outside of football, Hamlin branched out into his own business ventures, creating a clothing brand called Chasing M's, dedicated to "those who have a dream and pursue it ... and can't settle to be average," and has donated clothes from his brand to Pittsburgh-area high schools.

"I think, too often, in the football world people forget that underneath the football helmet and a jersey is a human. Damar is a great human being. He's an extremely loyal, supportive friend. A great teammate. Damar is the type of person that you know what you're going to get day in, day out," Petrishen told The Times. "...He's the type of person that checks all the boxes as a great person off the field.

"...He's a perfect role model for young kids to look up to, especially in Pittsburgh. In the Sto-Rox area where he's from, they view him as a hero."

Praying for recovery

In Hamlin’s hometown of McKees Rocks, a western Pennsylvania borough of roughly 6,000 people, residents are praying for the player and his family.

“We’re proud of him,” said Jamal Marshall, 33, of McKees Rocks, outside of a local bus stop. “I hope he recovers quick.”

Tricia Woodson, 48, of McKees Rocks, said her two nephews who play youth football are distraught after watching Hamlin’s injury. After finishing her grocery run at Aldi’s, she planned to donate to his toy drive.

“My heart just breaks for him and his mom,” Woodson said. “Lots of the kids here look up to him because I think it helps them see their potential. I’m just praying for him ... watching him be injured like that … everyone should donate so when he’s better he can see his impact.”

Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese Bishop David Zubik said in an emailed statement that everyone's prayers are with Hamlin and his family.

"As a graduate of Central Catholic High School and the University of Pittsburgh, Damar is part of our family," he said. "We, as a Catholic community, offer prayers for his recovery, and for God's comfort to fill the hearts of all of those who are praying for him, and awaiting updates on his condition.

Hamlin's family released a statement through his agent Jordan Rooney thanking the community for its support.

"On behalf of our family, we want to express our sincere gratitude for the love and support shown to Damar during this challenging time. We are deeply moved by the prayers, kind words, and donations from fans around the country," the statement read.

"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 a 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," it continued.

Giving back to the community

Outside of his business venture, Hamlin initiated a toy drive for a local daycare in McKees Rocks as a senior at Pitt. The toy drive was the first program of his The Chasing M's Foundation in December 2020. Each year the initial fundraising goal is $2,500. Within hours of Hamlin's injury Monday night, the toy drive's GoFundMe page reached $1 million in donations. As of Tuesday, the toy drive has raised $3.9 million from 148,100 donations.

"I know that the type of response we've seen so far will make Damar extremely proud and happy," Petrishen said. "He's always wanted to have an impact on people and inspire people, and I think this is beyond anybody's expectations. This is obviously not the way we wanted things to happen, but he'll be proud to have the impact on people that he's had."

For Totten, that type of response from not only players across the NFL and the college landscape, and even on down to the high school level in western Pennsylvania, but also from fans across the country who don't know Hamlin personally, shows the type of impact Hamlin has made in his 24 years.

"He touched people in all situations," Totten said. "It wasn't effervescent, it's just a quiet, steady demeanor which endeared him to so many people he met along the way."

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: McKees Rocks' Damar Hamlin receives support from Pittsburgh community