Mike Tomlin wants to help Pittsburgh native Damar Hamlin any way he can

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin talked about Damar Hamlin in Tuesday’s weekly press conference with the media.

Damar Hamlin is from the McKee’s Rocks area right outside of Pittsburgh, and played his college football at the University of Pittsburgh. While he plays in Buffalo now, the Burgh was his first home, and he represents it in everything he does both on and off the field.

On the football field, Hamlin chose to stay home rather than attend higher-profile schools like Notre Dame and Penn State. His GoFundMe, which he started in college to aid a toy drive for McKee’s Rocks children, has reached over $4 million in donations as of this morning as football fans try to help in any way they can.

Mike Tomlin feels similarly. Tomlin, who has known Hamlin since before his high school days, called Sean McDermott on Monday night and offered his aid.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin wants to help Damar Hamlin

Almost every NFL team has offered condolences to the Hamlin family and the Buffalo Bills, but it’s different for Tomlin and the Steelers. Hamlin is one of their own. As a Pittsburgh resident and University of Pittsburgh alum myself, Tuesday is a somber day, as well as a nervous one as we wait for more updates.

As of this afternoon, Hamlin remains in intensive care at the University of Cincinnati medical center. He is in critical condition, and has been since last night. The Bills, as well as Hamlin’s family, have released statements saying they are “grateful and thankful for the outpouring of support we have received thus far.”

We can only hope to receive some good news on Hamlin’s front sometime in the next few days. As far as the Bills-Bengals game, which was postponed after Hamlin’s injury, the NFL has ensured it’s an afterthought at this time.

We’ll have more information on Hamlin’s status when it’s made available.