‘Utterly disrespectful’: Pittsburgh Steelers CPR celebration panned

It’s taken just a week since Damar Hamlin was brought back to life on the field for a rival team to have made light of the fact.

This was in bad taste. Photo: Fox Sports

During the Steelers’ 28-14 win over the Browns at Acrisure Stadium on Sunday, Pittsburgh linebacker Alex Highsmith received a questionable CPR celebration after sacking Deshaun Watson in the game’s fourth quarter.

The celebration comes less than a week since Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field while playing against the Bengals. The safety received lifesaving CPR after he went into cardiac arrest.

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Immediately after the celebration, social media users began giving their takes. One football fan mocked Pittsburgh by calling the action “real classy” after Hamlin’s incident.

Steelers defense celebrated a sack by performing CPR. Of all weeks… not a great look. Yikes. pic.twitter.com/ZvVPCwS6ya

— Gunz (@TheGunzShow) January 8, 2023

cannot believe how many 🤡🤡🤡 are defending the @steelers’ “cpr” sack celebration … today, of all days … with “guys have been doing it for years!” and other 🚮 takes

— Marc Ernay (@MarcErnay) January 9, 2023

The Pittsburgh Steelers are utterly disrespectful for trying to re-enact what happened to Damar Hamlin, the bar has been set extremely low.

— Annyhead (@WrRumph) January 8, 2023

Radio host Isaac Wenzel questioned what he just saw and asked: “Did a Steelers player just do CPR in a big play celebration?”

“The Gunz Show” host Mike Gunz chimed in as well, saying “Of all weeks … not a great look. Yikes.”

This was in bad taste. Photo: Fox Sports

He later added Highsmith “obviously didn’t have any ill intention towards Hamlin. Just saying it happened and the timing wasn’t the greatest.”

Writer Chip Franklin wrote: “Really? After Hamlin tragedy, the classless Steelers go with a CPR celebration.”

Despite the celebration, Highsmith has been supportive of Hamlin’s recovery with the linebacker posting that he is “praying” for the 24-year-old safety on Twitter.

Many NFL teams, including the Bills’ division rival Jets, honoured Hamlin on Sunday.

According to the Bills, Hamlin recently had his breathing tube removed and was cheering on Buffalo during its regular-season finale win against the Patriots.

This story first appeared in the New York Post and was republished with permission.

Originally published as ‘Utterly disrespectful’: Pittsburgh Steelers CPR celebration panned