“I shouldn’t be coaching this game,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor reveals Sean McDermott’s words after Damar Hamlin collapse
Follow Us
Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest at Paycor Stadium during the Bills vs Bengals game. He was given CPR on the field, which saved his life. Damar’s teammates in Buffalo Bills were crying after the horrific injury. All the players and staff present on-field covered him to avoid public view. Hamlin was immediately rushed to the UC Medical Center, where he is now in critical condition.
There were rumors the NFL executives insisted on continuing the game after a five-minute warm-up but coaches and players denied it. However, such rumors were shut down by Troy Vincent in a press conference after the incident. The Bengals coach has now revealed how the Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott reacted after this incident.
Zac Taylor has revealed the empathy and responsibility that McDermott showed on-field following this incident. A coach is always like a guardian figure for their players, and the Bills coach proved this right. According to Taylor, his primary concern was not the game but Damar’s recovery.
Bengals coach Zac Taylor immensely moved by the response by the Bills coach Sean McDermott during Damar Hamlin’s injury
Damar Hamlin‘s injury was one of the most traumatic and shocking scenes in this season’s NFL. During such a crisis, the team’s coach must make the right calls and decisions. As Zac Taylor reveals, Sean McDermott acted in the most mature and best possible manner to handle this situation.
Taylor reveals that McDermott had only one objective during this situation. According to him, McDermott said, “I need to be at the hospital with Damar, and I shouldn’t be coaching this game.”
Taylor was moved by McDermott’s empathy and presence of mind during that situation. He said, “In that moment, he really showed who he was. That all his focus was just on Damar and being there for him and being there for his family at the hospital.”
A rumor had started running wild of the game, continuing post-Hamlin’s departure from the field. A few minutes after the incident, ESPN’s Joe Buck said that the teams were beginning a five-minute warm-up. The NFL executives shot down these rumors in a media conference held after this incident.
Bengals coach Taylor also said he was not directed by any authority to restart the game. He added, “It was just, let’s particularly give Buffalo space to process as a team because they had not done that. They had just been there for Damar. We’ve been through this situation a million times where there’s an injury on the field and something happens on the field and just the natural process is you give yourself a couple minutes.”
Taylor also credited the officiating crew for doing an incredible job in this challenging situation. As for Damar’s health, Bills released a statement saying he remains in the ICU in critical condition and has shown signs of improvement. He is expected to remain in critical care as the healthcare team continues to monitor his condition.
Do follow us on: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Stay Updated!
Siddid Dey Purkayastha
(528 Articles Published)