Don't make any mistake about it.  Football is a dangerous sport.  From bone breaks to ligament tears, concussions and other head injuries, players enter the arena each time knowing it could be their last day to compete.

Get our free mobile app

However, very few would ever consider that it could be their last day to live; that the sport could actually cost them their life.

Monday night in a game between the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals, safety for the Bills, Damar Hamlin, nearly paid that ultimate price.

While he is still in intensive care after suffering a cardiac arrest early in the game, doctors are somewhat baffled as to what caused Hamlin to collapse shortly after making a tackle, but a Louisiana doctor thinks he might know exactly what happened.

Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images
Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images
loading...

In a story from the Louisiana Radio Network, LSU Health New Orleans cardiac electrophysiologist, Dr. Jameel Ahmed says it could be as simple as the hard hit Hamlin took making that tackle that led to the cardiac arrest.

Ahmed stated, “It's called commotion cordis. Basically, there's blunt trauma to the chest and heart area at a particularly unfortunate time all within a very narrow window of the cardiac cycle and that can lead to the heart going into an electrical arrhythmia.”

Continuing, Ahmed added, “How well they recover is how quickly they get resuscitated. The response was immediate and he was on his way on an ambulance to a hospital within several minutes. All those things are favorable prognostics.”

As viewers of the game witnessed, medical staff was immediately and his immediate transportation to the hospital for advanced care give Hamlin the best shot at a full recovery after a horrific injury like this.

Obviously our prayers continue!

LOOK: 50 images of winning moments from sports history

Sometimes images are the best way to honor the figures we've lost. When tragedy swiftly reminds us that sports are far from the most consequential thing in life, we can still look back on an athlete's winning moment that felt larger than life, remaining grateful for their sacrifice on the court and bringing joy to millions.

Read on to explore the full collection of 50 images Stacker compiled showcasing various iconic winning moments in sports history. Covering achievements from a multitude of sports, these images represent stunning personal achievements, team championships, and athletic perseverance.

LOOK: This is where homes are selling the fastest right now

Stacker compiled a list of the metros where houses are selling the fastest, according to data from Redfin.

More From K945, The Hit Music Channel