We’re all pulling for you, @HamlinIsland. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/XOwUUM4Riv
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) January 4, 2023
The Kansas City Chiefs canceled their Tuesday media availability out of respect for the Buffalo Bills organization and S Damar Hamlin following the events that transpired on Monday night.
When Chiefs HC Andy Reid took the podium on Wednesday, he opened up with a somber statement, explaining that the team has been doing its part for Hamlin from afar. They took yesterday’s pause in media availability to hold a prayer for Hamlin with the team chaplain.
“Alright, I’ll just start with (Bills S) Damar (Hamlin) – that’s quite an event that took place there,” Reid told reporters. “There are a lot of things that you take out of that from a humanity standpoint – we’re all pulling for Damar as he goes forward here. We actually had a team prayer for him yesterday with our team chaplain, so you have to (be) thinking that any bit of extra that we can get to support him we’re trying to do (that) from afar. But our prayers are also with his family as they go forward.”
Right now, the players, coaches and staff members in Kansas City are doing their best to support each other after witnessing a very traumatic situation unfold. Vice President of Player Services and Assessment, Dr. Shaun Tyrance, has addressed the team to provide them an outlet if they need help.
“So just to know that there’s help for them if they need to talk to somebody, that we’re available,” Reid said. “Whether it’s religiously, psychologically, we’ve got all the tools plus the league has tools to help you through that. And coaches, we’re here the same way, so if a player were to need help or the coach needs help, it’s there for them, too.”
In addition to prayer and providing his team with everything they need, Reid said he reached out to Bills HC Sean McDermott and DC Leslie Frazier to lend his support. Both are friends and members of his coaching tree.
“Yeah, I texted him – both him and (Bills Defensive Coordinator/Assistant Head Coach) Leslie (Frazier) – but I’ve stayed away from that,” Reid said. “They’ve got enough on their plate that they’re dealing with, and I know how they’re wired, they’re great people and I could imagine where their minds at now.”
If there is anything good that has come from this tragic situation, Reid says it’s how the league has rallied to support Hamlin and each other in one of its darkest hours.
“Yeah, I think it’s phenomenal,” Reid said. “That’s a great part about us as humans — we come to the rescue. We probably need more of that in a lot of different situations, but that one for sure was a kind of unity, love. It was great.”
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