Giants coach Brian Daboll offers prayers for ‘tremendous young man’ Damar Hamlin

There are deep ties between the New York Giants and Buffalo Bills organizations. GM Joe Schoen, head coach Brian Daboll and several players, coaches and staff members were part of the Buffalo organization as recently as last season.

Thus, watching Damar Hamlin of the Bills fight for his life in a Cincinnati hospital after suffering cardiac arrest on the field Monday night in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals hits close to home for the Giants.

“We offer our prayers to him, his family, the people in that organization,” Daboll said. “This is tragic, tragic to see. Feel for Damar most importantly, the family, all the players and coaches that are around him every day. He’s a tremendous young man. Just pray for recovery.

“It was tough.”

Daboll had the Giants’ medical staff, team psychologist and team chaplain all address the players before they did anything football-related on Wednesday.

Daboll wore a No. 3 hat in honor of Hamlin, who wears that number for the Bills.

Among players on the 53-man roster or practice squad who have been teammates with Hamlin are Matt Breida, Jon Feliciano, Isaiah Hodgins, Nick McCloud and Davis Webb.

Coaches with ties to the Bills include Laura Young and Bobby Johnson.

ESPN reported Wednesday morning that Hamlin, who remains in critical condition, had shown “signs of progress” overnight.

Some of the players who know Hamlin spoke to media after Wednesday’s practice.