Bills legend Andre Reed knows the “sustainable” Buffalo community will rally behind Damar Hamlin.

NFL Hall of Fame On Tuesday morning, Andre Reed was talking to his mother. She knew all about what had happened to Damar Hamlin’s security on Monday night, and immediately thought of her son.

“It hit her because she thought of me every game — something was going on,” Reed told Fox News Digital on Tuesday. “As a player, you don’t think about it. You are there because it is your job.”

Yes, football players know that “they take a risk,” as Reed put it, every time they put on a helmet.

However, accounts Cincinnati Bengals and everyone else who saw Hamlin pass out due to cardiac arrest did not expect something like this to happen on the field.

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Andre Reed attends the launch of the Actors and Athletes: Alliances for Democracy at the Jean-Georges in Beverly Hills on July 17, 2022 in Beverly Hills, California.

Andre Reed attends the launch of the Actors and Athletes: Alliances for Democracy at the Jean-Georges in Beverly Hills on July 17, 2022 in Beverly Hills, California.
(Leon Bennett/Getty Images)

“I saw guys being taken away with knee injuries and all the things you see in football,” Reed explained. “Now it’s a concussion, they’re leaving. Knee injuries, ankles, hamstrings, whatever. I didn’t know what was going on until both teams showed up and some of the guys started crying.

“It’s hard to make a grown man cry, period. But it’s even harder to make 45-90 grown men cry at a given moment on national television in a sport that isn’t known for crying, except when you win or lose. I knew it was something else.”

Reid admitted that he didn’t really think anything about what Bengals wide receiver Tee Higginswho lowered his shoulder to Hamlin before they both fell to the turf.

“I got hit much harder than that,” Reed said.

However, upon standing up, Hamlin collapsed. The medical teams of both employees rushed to his aid, and in the end they had to restore his heartbeat before putting him in an ambulance, she headed to the intensive care unit at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills walks towards the tunnel during halftime of a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Highmark Stadium.  September 9, 2022 in Orchard Park, New York.

Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills walks towards the tunnel during halftime of a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Highmark Stadium. September 9, 2022 in Orchard Park, New York.
(Brian Bennett/Getty Images)

Like many associated with Buffalo, Tuesday was a tough day for Reid. He and many others have been trying to figure out what happened last night, but Reed understands how resilient the Buffalo community can be.

As Reed mentioned, it’s been a tough year for Buffalo, which has faced mass shootings and two recent blizzards that have claimed lives. Now, to start the new year, adversity strikes again.

But Reed knows the Buffalonians will stay strong for Hamlin and his family.

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“If any community can come together and become what it is, then this is this community. This community is some of the strongest and most resilient people I have ever met in my life,” he said.

One clear example of this is the wave of support Hamlin Foundation, Chasing M’s, which has seen a huge push of donations not only from Buffalo but from people across the country who are doing everything they can to help.

Andre Reid at the 22nd Annual Harold & Carol Pump Foundation Gala at The Beverly Hilton August 2019 on February 19, 2022 in Beverly Hills, CA.

Andre Reid at the 22nd Annual Harold & Carol Pump Foundation Gala at The Beverly Hilton August 2019 on February 19, 2022 in Beverly Hills, CA.
(Tiffany Rose/Getty Images for the Harold and Carol Pump Foundation)

At the time of this writing, the GoFundMe charity page is valued at around $5.5 million. And there was support from other NFL players like Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson, who, along with his wife Ciara, donated $10,000. Tom Brady, Washington Command and many others sent donations.

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New Orleans Saints quarterback Andy Dalton also donated $3,000, and Reed pointed out how the Buffalo community donated to his charity in 2017 after his Bengals defeated the Baltimore Ravens to knock out the Bills ticket to the playoffs.

This is the type of community that Reid wants to help and highlight during this difficult time, and he knows the Bills will need all the support they can get.

“Communities are the meat and potatoes of who we are. That’s why guys come back to their community and give back,” Reid said. “Damar Hamlin did something great. They realized that he was doing something good.”

Buffalo Bills defenseman Damar Hamlin warms up before a game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field.

Buffalo Bills defenseman Damar Hamlin warms up before a game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field.
(Lon Horwedel/USA Today Sports)

The NFL season will continue, although the league has yet to decide how exactly to move forward as the Bills-Bengals Week 17 game has been postponed. Buffalo has already earned a playoff spot by winning the AFC East title.

But moving on will be difficult, presumably without Hamlin on the field, and with no one aware of his true status.

“They’re just trying to put it all together and sort themselves out. Something mental is going on. What people don’t realize is that mental awareness has become a big part of the sport over the last couple of years and some of that needs to be talked about. They are grown men, but we are not perfect. We need help,” Reid said.

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If there’s one person who can get the Bills through this, it’s head coach Sean McDermott, at least in Reed’s eyes.

Damar Hamlin (3) of the Buffalo Bills reacts to a first-quarter tackle against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Highmark Stadium in October.  September 9, 2022 in Orchard Park, New York.

Damar Hamlin (3) of the Buffalo Bills reacts to a first-quarter tackle against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Highmark Stadium in October. September 9, 2022 in Orchard Park, New York.
(Brian M. Bennett/Getty Images)

“I know he had a meeting this morning about what would happen if he even found out,” Reed said. “The league hasn’t released anything yet. He’s really in tune with his players and they’ve been through a lot this year.

“I think Sean is not only a great coach, he has done a great job in five years getting this team to where it needs to be.”

According to his uncle, Dorrian Glenn, Hamlin is showing signs of improvement. He told the NFL Network Tuesday night that Hamlin remains in intensive care, but his oxygen on a ventilator has improved to 50%, where it was previously at 100%.

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The 24-year-old man remains under anesthesia.