John Brown gifts touchdown to Bills athletic trainer who administered CPR to Damar Hamlin
After scoring a touchdown, Buffalo Bills wide receiver John Brown gifted the football to assistant athletic trainer Denny Kellington, who performed life-saving CPR to Damar Hamlin.
The Buffalo Bills and the entire NFL celebrated safety Damar Hamlin, who is on the mend after suffering cardiac arrest in the team’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals this past Monday. After being transported to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center in critical condition. In the days since, the updates became more promising, including Hamlin having a breathing tube removed and communicating with his family and teammates.
Ahead of the Bills’ game against the New England Patriots, the team honored their training staff for helping out Hamlin during his serious medical situation. One member of the staff who has received unanimous praise is assistant athletic trainer Denny Kellington, who performed lifesaving CPR to Hamlin on the field at Paycor Stadium for nearly 10 minutes.
In the third quarter, wide receiver John Brown made a huge 42-yard reception for the touchdown to extend Buffalo’s lead to 28-17. As Brown was on the sideline, he spotted Kellington and gifted him with the touchdown football.
Watch John Brown gift Denny Kellington with touchdown football
As the week went on and updates were getting more and more positive in regards to Hamlin, it was revealed that Kellington was the one who stepped in to perform CPR on the field. Kellington received praise from offensive tackle Dion Dawkins on Twitter and from head coach Sean McDermott in a press conference on Thursday.
“For an assistant to find himself at that position and needing to take the action that he did and step up and take charge like he did, and there were others on the field as well, is nothing short of amazing and the courage that that took. You talk about a real leader, a real hero, in saving Damar’s life. [I] admire his strength.”
On Saturday, Hamlin posted a message on his Instagram account, thanking everyone for their support as he battles back from his medical scare.
“When you put real love out into the world it comes back to you 3x’s as much.. The Love has been overwhelming, but I’m thankful for every single person that prayed for me and reached out. We brung the world back together behind this. If you know me you know this only gone make me stronger. On a long road keep praying for me!” Hamlin wrote.
On the opening kickoff of Buffalo’s game against the Patriots, running back Nyheim Hines ran it in all the way for a touchdown in a true storybook moment. Hamlin responded simply with “OMFG” after watching the opening play.
The Bills thanked Kellington and the training staff for helping out Hamlin. John Brown wanted to give him another gift as a thanks — a touchdown football.
