Damar Hamlinis a safety for the Buffalo Bills.
It wasn’t until September 2022 that Hamlin started for the team after stepping in for Micah Hyde, his defensive tackle teammate whosuffered a neck injury and underwent surgerythe following month.
Hamlin told reporters in the locker room after the game that it was"real tough"coming in for Hyde in the wake of his friend’s injury. “Because it’s real-life stuff going on,” he said. “Life is bigger than football.”
Greg M Cooper/AP/Shutterstock
Shortly after, Hamlin underwent a health scare of his own. The Bills safety was in critical condition after he collapsed on the field andsuffered cardiac arrestduring Monday Night Football on Jan. 2 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Hamlin was injured early in the first quarterof the game while attempting a tackle. Video from the game showed Hamlin standing up after being knocked to the ground, before suddenly collapsing. Hamlin’s family has asked fans to keep him “in your prayers” during the challenging time.
On Jan. 28, Hamlinspoke publicly for the first timesince his collapse and thanked his fans for their well-wishes throughout his health scare. “I can’t tell you how appreciative I am of all the love, all the support, and everything that’s just been coming in my way.”
As he’s now on a road to recovery, here’s everything to know about the NFL player.
He’s a Pennsylvania native
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Hamlin was born to Mario and Nina Hamlin on March 24, 1998, and grew up in McKees Rocks, a borough in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area in Western Pennsylvania. He attended Central Catholic High School where he turned heads as a top cornerback and came out a four-star recruit.
He played college football at the University of Pittsburgh
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Hamlin’s college decision was an easy one. “I was just so Pittsburgh,” he told thePoint Park Globein 2021. “Everything was Pittsburgh for me,” he added. “I wanted to give my city bragging rights, bring my city something and just give the city another reason to smile.”
He’s been with the Buffalo Bills since 2021
Damar Hamlin/Instagram
During Week 2 of the 2022 season, Hamlin took over for safety Micah Hyde (who suffered a neck injury) and has started for the Bills ever since. Prior to suffering cardiac arrest, Hamlin played in all 15 games.
ESPN reported that Bills defensive coordinatorLeslie Frazer praised Hamlin’s developmentsthis season, including how “he has stepped up more as a vocal leader and improved as a tackler, with a lot thrown on his plate quickly after he had to step in for Hyde.”
Damar Hamlin.Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire/Getty
Statistically, the safety entered Monday’s game tied for the second-most tackles on the team, according to ESPN.
He founded The Chasing M’s Foundation
Matt Freed/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP
Accordingto the Bills, Hamlin wanted to start a charity as soon as he finished his college career and joined the NFL, which led to the creation ofThe Chasing M’s Foundation. He kicked off the charity with a fundraiser in 2020 that provided toys for Kelly and Nina’s Daycare Center in his hometown.
“The idea popped into my head right after Clemson week,” Hamlin told thePittsburgh Post-Gazetteat the time. “It sparked a thought in my head. But I actually couldn’t do anything until after my eligibility was done as far as GoFundMe and all that … This was all able to happen off that short amount of time.”
He added, “That just goes to show the support that the town, the city, all of Pitt fans and the University of Pittsburgh, everyone that grew up watching me and knew my story personally and have been a part of it, that’s just a testament to how much they support me.”
In the wake of the NFL player’s health scare,a GoFundMebenefitting Hamlin’s charity has receivedmore than $3.5 million in donations.
He’s very close with his family
“My mom, my dad, my little brother, like that’s pretty much my whole world, outside of any other thing going on; my life revolves around them,” he said. “I don’t really do too much without my mom and dad’s opinion. Whether I take it or whether I don’t … sometimes I just want to hear it.”
Hamlin appears to have a special bond withhis younger brother, Damir Hamlin, who often posts his admiration for his big bro on Instagram.
Damar Hamlin.Timothy T Ludwig/Getty
In addition to his little brother’s support, theBuffalo Bills player has the love of his entire familyon his side — who most recently, released a statement of gratitude in the midst of his health scare.
He has the support of his teammates, fans and community
Outside of Hamlin’s immediate family, his Buffalo Bills teammates, fans and the NFL community have showntheir support for the playeras he remains in critical condition after suffering cardiac arrest during his game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
According to ESPN reporterColey Harvey, wide receiver Stefon Diggs, along with a few other teammates and head coach Zac Taylor, visited Hamlin at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center after the game.
Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase also said he was “sending a prayer” to Hamlin and his loved ones. “I wanna send a prayer to Damar and his family,” Chasetweeted, whileBills quarterback Josh Allen tweeted: “Please pray for our brother.”
source: people.com
