Damar Hamlin is revered by those who know him well

man, it's *** really personal thing for me being *** Pittsburgh er and that young man being *** Pittsburgh, I've known that guy probably since he was about 12, um just got *** lot of respect and love for him as *** human being, um his commitment to the pursuit of his goals and dreams of doing what it is he's doing right now, which is playing in the NFL and to watch him make personal decisions and and make that *** realization, um it's just an honor to get to know young people like that, um had an opportunity to express that to them whenever I see him, we've played Buffalo um each of the last two seasons and he and I get to have *** moment because it's just cool to, to, to not only appreciate these guys in terms of where they are now, but to, to know them since they were younger people and to, to watch their maturation, their development, to watch them, um you know, earn what they've been chasing, um it's just really *** cool thing and he's an example of that, I got *** lot of love for that young man we lifted here, him and that organization up in prayer, um reached out Sean McDermott to lend whatever assistance I could um but um I don't have *** lot to add other than that, um I just respect the fact that you guys appreciate how personal it is for, for me, not only for me, but just for all of us, um as people that thrive in this space, um that's not obviously something that you ever want to see. man, it's *** really personal thing for me being *** Pittsburgh er and that young man being *** Pittsburgh, I've known that guy probably since he was about 12, um just got *** lot of respect and love for him as *** human being, um his commitment to the pursuit of his goals and dreams of doing what it is he's doing right now, which is playing in the NFL and to watch him make personal decisions and and make that *** realization, um it's just an honor to get to know young people like that, um had an opportunity to express that to them whenever I see him, we've played Buffalo um each of the last two seasons and he and I get to have *** moment because it's just cool to, to, to not only appreciate these guys in terms of where they are now, but to, to know them since they were younger people and to, to watch their maturation, their development, to watch them, um you know, earn what they've been chasing, um it's just really *** cool thing and he's an example of that, I got *** lot of love for that young man we lifted here, him and that organization up in prayer, um reached out Sean McDermott to lend whatever assistance I could um but um I don't have *** lot to add other than that, um I just respect the fact that you guys appreciate how personal it is for, for me, not only for me, but just for all of us, um as people that thrive in this space, um that's not obviously something that you ever want to see.

People in McKees Rocks and at Central Catholic High School say Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin earned a reputation of high esteem long before he achieved the status of a professional football player.When they watched Hamlin suffer a cardiac arrest on national television Monday night on the football field, their thoughts were that a good man went down, but he won't stay down.Terry Totten recently retired as the head football coach at Central Catholic after 18 years and says Hamlin is a tremendous humanitarian with a strong spirit."He avails himself of his time here. He certainly avails himself of his time in his charitable organization, his toy drive, efforts back in this neighborhood of Mckees Rocks, the University of Pittsburgh. That's who he is, in a quiet, non-headline way," Totten said.Steven Wray says he was Hamlin's barber for 10 years in McKees Rocks before he attended the University of Pittsburgh on a football scholarship."Very humble, very smooth, laid back, no trouble-maker. Everything in a good kid you'd love to have," Wray said.Hamlin is the focus of many prayers and support as he recovers in intensive care at a Cincinnati hospital.Pat Narduzzi, Hamlin's football coach at the University of Pittsburgh, says Hamlin was more than a football player."He's a loving son, brother and friend. Damar is a hero to thousands of Pittsburgh kids," Narduzzi said.Archie Brinza, council president of McKees Rocks, said that he had known Hamlin since Hamlin was a little kid. Brinza called Hamlin a "great kid. He’s a fighter. He’s about us. He’s a kid that everyone thought he couldn’t, and he did."Before he had money, before he had anything, he made a foundation to give back to these kids in this town. And that to me is what a Rocks guy is about. That, to me, is what a person is about. He’s just an amazing, amazing kid," said Brinza.Brinza said he had talked to Hamlin's father: "He asked me just to pray, and anybody that asks about him to tell them to pray."

PITTSBURGH —

When they watched Hamlin suffer a cardiac arrest on national television Monday night on the football field, their thoughts were that a good man went down, but he won't stay down.

Terry Totten recently retired as the head football coach at Central Catholic after 18 years and says Hamlin is a tremendous humanitarian with a strong spirit.

"He avails himself of his time here. He certainly avails himself of his time in his charitable organization, his toy drive, efforts back in this neighborhood of Mckees Rocks, the University of Pittsburgh. That's who he is, in a quiet, non-headline way," Totten said.

Steven Wray says he was Hamlin's barber for 10 years in McKees Rocks before he attended the University of Pittsburgh on a football scholarship.

"Very humble, very smooth, laid back, no trouble-maker. Everything in a good kid you'd love to have," Wray said.

Hamlin is the focus of many prayers and support as he recovers in intensive care at a Cincinnati hospital.

Pat Narduzzi, Hamlin's football coach at the University of Pittsburgh, says Hamlin was more than a football player.

"He's a loving son, brother and friend. Damar is a hero to thousands of Pittsburgh kids," Narduzzi said.

Archie Brinza, council president of McKees Rocks, said that he had known Hamlin since Hamlin was a little kid. Brinza called Hamlin a "great kid. He’s a fighter. He’s about us. He’s a kid that everyone thought he couldn’t, and he did.

"Before he had money, before he had anything, he made a foundation to give back to these kids in this town. And that to me is what a Rocks guy is about. That, to me, is what a person is about. He’s just an amazing, amazing kid," said Brinza.

Brinza said he had talked to Hamlin's father: "He asked me just to pray, and anybody that asks about him to tell them to pray."

Damar Hamlin is revered by those who know him well

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