Photos: Fans gather in support of Damar Hamlin
Brandon Metzger lights candles before a prayer vigil for Buffalo Bills' Damar Hamlin outside of the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, in Cincinnati. Hamlin was taken to the hospital after collapsing on the field during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night.(AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Pittsburgh head coach Jeff Capel, right, pauses during a timeout salute to former University of Pittsburgh football player Damar Hamlin, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Virginia in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
A sign shows support for Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin outside Highmark Stadium on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex)
People pray during a prayer vigil for Buffalo Bills' Damar Hamlin outside of University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, in Cincinnati. Hamlin was taken to the hospital after collapsing on the field during the Bill's NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
A painting that shows the number of Buffalo Bills' Damar Hamlin is illuminated by candles during a prayer vigil outside University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, in Cincinnati. Hamlin was taken to the hospital after collapsing on the field during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
A sign and roses left in support for Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin are seen outside Highmark Stadium on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, in Orchard Park, N.Y. Hamlin was taken to the hospital after collapsing on the field during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex)
Bills fans and community members gather outside Highmark Stadium for a prayer circle for Buffalo Bills' Damar Hamlin on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, in Orchard Park, N.Y. The family of Damar Hamlin expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support shown toward the Buffalo Bills safety who suffered cardiac arrest after making a tackle while asking everyone to keep the hospitalized player in their prayers on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex)
Thurman Thomas, left, and Patti Thomas, right, listen during a prayer circle for Buffalo Bills' Damar Hamlin on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, in Orchard Park, N.Y. The family of Damar Hamlin expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support shown toward the Buffalo Bills safety who suffered cardiac arrest after making a tackle while asking everyone to keep the hospitalized player in their prayers on Tuesday.(AP Photo/Joshua Bessex)
Buffalo Sabres players walk towards the locker room upon arriving wearing shirts in support of Buffalo Bills football player Damar Hamlin before an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
A scoreboard at Great American Ballpark displays a photo of Buffalo Bills' Damar Hamlin, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, in Cincinnati. Hamlin was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center after collapsing on the field during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night.(AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Football fans gather outside of University of Cincinnati Medical Center and pray for Buffalo Bills' Damar Hamlin, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, in Cincinnati. Hamlin was taken to the hospital after collapsing on the field during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Buffalo Bills fans and community members gather for a candlelight vigil for Bills safety Damar Hamlin on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, in Orchard Park, N.Y. Hamlin collapsed Monday while going into cardiac arrest after making what appeared to be a routine tackle during the team's NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Hamlin was sedated and in critical condition Tuesday. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex)
A person holds a Buffalo Bills candle during a a candlelight vigil for Bills safety Damar Hamlin on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, in Orchard Park, N.Y. Hamlin collapsed Monday while going into cardiac arrest after making what appeared to be a routine tackle during the team's NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Hamlin was sedated and in critical condition Tuesday. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex)
A person holds an electric candle during a vigil for Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, in Orchard Park, N.Y. Hamlin collapsed Monday while going into cardiac arrest after making what appeared to be a routine tackle during the team's NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Hamlin was sedated and in critical condition Tuesday. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex)
Buffalo Bills fans and community members gather for a candlelight vigil for Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex)
Brandon Metzger lights candles before a prayer vigil for Buffalo Bills' Damar Hamlin outside of the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, in Cincinnati. Hamlin was taken to the hospital after collapsing on the field during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night.(AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Pittsburgh head coach Jeff Capel, right, pauses during a timeout salute to former University of Pittsburgh football player Damar Hamlin, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Virginia in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
A sign shows support for Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin outside Highmark Stadium on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex)
People pray during a prayer vigil for Buffalo Bills' Damar Hamlin outside of University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, in Cincinnati. Hamlin was taken to the hospital after collapsing on the field during the Bill's NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
A painting that shows the number of Buffalo Bills' Damar Hamlin is illuminated by candles during a prayer vigil outside University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, in Cincinnati. Hamlin was taken to the hospital after collapsing on the field during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night.Â
A sign and roses left in support for Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin are seen outside Highmark Stadium on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, in Orchard Park, N.Y. Hamlin was taken to the hospital after collapsing on the field during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex)
Bills fans and community members gather outside Highmark Stadium for a prayer circle for Buffalo Bills' Damar Hamlin on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, in Orchard Park, N.Y. The family of Damar Hamlin expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support shown toward the Buffalo Bills safety who suffered cardiac arrest after making a tackle while asking everyone to keep the hospitalized player in their prayers on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex)
Thurman Thomas, left, and Patti Thomas, right, listen during a prayer circle for Buffalo Bills' Damar Hamlin on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, in Orchard Park, N.Y. The family of Damar Hamlin expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support shown toward the Buffalo Bills safety who suffered cardiac arrest after making a tackle while asking everyone to keep the hospitalized player in their prayers on Tuesday.(AP Photo/Joshua Bessex)
Buffalo Sabres players walk towards the locker room upon arriving wearing shirts in support of Buffalo Bills football player Damar Hamlin before an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
A scoreboard at Great American Ballpark displays a photo of Buffalo Bills' Damar Hamlin, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, in Cincinnati. Hamlin was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center after collapsing on the field during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night.(AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Football fans gather outside of University of Cincinnati Medical Center and pray for Buffalo Bills' Damar Hamlin, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, in Cincinnati. Hamlin was taken to the hospital after collapsing on the field during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Buffalo Bills fans and community members gather for a candlelight vigil for Bills safety Damar Hamlin on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, in Orchard Park, N.Y. Hamlin collapsed Monday while going into cardiac arrest after making what appeared to be a routine tackle during the team's NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Hamlin was sedated and in critical condition Tuesday. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex)
A person holds a Buffalo Bills candle during a a candlelight vigil for Bills safety Damar Hamlin on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, in Orchard Park, N.Y. Hamlin collapsed Monday while going into cardiac arrest after making what appeared to be a routine tackle during the team's NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Hamlin was sedated and in critical condition Tuesday. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex)
A person holds an electric candle during a vigil for Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, in Orchard Park, N.Y. Hamlin collapsed Monday while going into cardiac arrest after making what appeared to be a routine tackle during the team's NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Hamlin was sedated and in critical condition Tuesday. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex)
Buffalo Bills fans and community members gather for a candlelight vigil for Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex)
Unfounded claims about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines proliferated in the hours and days after Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed during Monday's game.
Football, a game with violence in its DNA, can go from exciting and joyous to dark and tragic in a flash.
Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin is breathing on his own and able to talk after having his breathing tube removed, his agent said Friday.
Buffalo News reporters Mark Gaughan and Katherine Fitzgerald share insight into what Damar Hamlin is like in the locker room and off the field.
