Locally Made ‘Get Well’ Banner For Bills Player Receives High Marks
- Pictured, from left, are Ryan Magnuson and owners of Magnum Graf-X, Carrie and Tracy Magnuson. A banner made locally received thousands of signatures and messages in support of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin. Submitted photos
- Ryan Magnuson is pictured Sunday prior to the Bills game against the New England Patriots.

Pictured, from left, are Ryan Magnuson and owners of Magnum Graf-X, Carrie and Tracy Magnuson. A banner made locally received thousands of signatures and messages in support of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin. Submitted photos
It was a banner day highlighting the goodwill of Buffalo Bills fans toward an injured player.
Two local businesses helped make it happen.
Tracy Magnuson, owner of Magnum Graf-X Signs and Shirts at 7 Water St. in Frewsburg, created a vinyl banner 54 inches tall and 10 feet wide designed as a giant “get well soon” card for Damar Hamlin. The 24-year-old Bills safety went into cardiac arrest after making a tackle during a Monday Night Football game between the Bills and Bengals.
“I said, ‘We ought to do a banner,’ ” Magnuson recalled in a conversation he had last week with his nephew, Ryan Magnuson, a longtime fan and season ticket holder. “I said, ‘Why not do a big banner and have people sign it.'”
Ryan Magnuson, who owns and operates Mags Custom Design in Lakewood, has a camper he takes to Bills home games. After taking some measurements, the Magnusons collaborated to make the banner that Ryan then brought with him for Sunday’s final regular season game of the year.

Ryan Magnuson is pictured Sunday prior to the Bills game against the New England Patriots.
“I wanted to do something for Damar that the fans can show their appreciation,” Ryan Magnuson told The Post-Journal on Monday. “I have a really good spot and thought it would be good to put up a banner and have guests sign it.”
His camper is parked near the stadium for home games. It didn’t take long Sunday for a line to form for those wishing to sign their names and leave a message of support to Hamlin.
Ryan Magnuson estimates there are more than 10,000 signatures on the locally made banner, which reads, “We are praying. Get well soon” as well as “Praying/Playing for Damar.”
“We ran out of space on the front and had to start using the back,” Ryan Magnuson said.
Hamlin’s heart stopped after making what appeared to be a routine tackle. His injury led to the cancellation of the Bills-Bengals game and an outpouring of support and donations.
“No one has ever seen something like that before,” Ryan Magnuson said. “The way that it happened, there’s nothing to compare it to. To see his updated progress and the positvity, it’s been great.”
Tracy Magnuson said he’s been a Bills fan since he was 5 years old. He was devastated by Hamlin’s injury.
“It was absolutely horrible, sickening actually,” he said. “I know the professionals around the teams, they are the best — they have the best people there.”
Prior to Sunday’s game against the Patriots, in which the Bills later won 35-23, the team’s trainers were recognized for saving Hamlin’s life.
Word of the banner spread quickly Sunday. Ryan Magnuson said he was interviewed more than a dozen times by local and regional media. He hopes the publicity will help in getting the banner delivered in the future to Hamlin.
“I think it goes to show that the Buffalo community, and just people in general, come together to show support,” Ryan Magnuson said of the response he received Sunday. He said people from Canada, Germany and France — among many others — stopped by to sign it, creating “worldwide recognition” for the Bills player.