Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin has made the final step to a complete recovery after suffering from a cardiac arrest in the middle of their Week 17 Monday Night Football showdown last season against the Cincinnati Bengals on January 2, 2023.
A collision with Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins caused commotio cordis for Hamlin, a rare disruption of the heart's rhythm due to a blow in the chest area. Medical staff performed CPR and administered defibrillation on the field, and the game was canceled and postponed to a later date.
Higgins was guilt-ridden for his role in the incident, keeping in touch with Hamlin and his family during his recovery.
The 25-year-old Hamlin stepped on the field for the first time in more than eight months during a preseason game by the Bills against the Indianapolis Colts at the Highmark Stadium last Saturday. The 2023 George Halas Award recipient battled two things leading into the game -- the Colts as well as nerves.
The former University of Pittsburgh player said that the butterflies he feels prior to games indicate his love and passion for the game. His father, Mario, advised him that getting nervous before a game is good because it means he cares enough.
"I want to be one of the greats. I want to be remembered as somebody who, you know, stood for something and who made a difference when I was out there on the field," Hamlin added.
Hamlin mentioned he prepared for the magnitude of this moment by doing extra work during the week, such as extra tackling. As soon as he stepped on the field, he went all out on his game, saying that a player puts himself at risk by hesitating.
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Buffalo Bills win preseason game on Hamlin's return
The Bills won the preseason game against the Colts, which featured Hamlin's return, 23-19.
Hamlin got hit in a football game for the first time in nearly a year in a play in the middle of the second quarter, where he tackled running back Evan Hull on a fourth-and-1 play. He has participated fully in team practices and organized team activities since June.
The six-foot, 200-pound safety admitted that the play took the weight out of his shoulders. He put up three tackles in the game, and each one was met with loud ovations from the fans at the Highmark Stadium in Buffalo.
Bills head coach Sean McDermott met with Hamlin last Friday night, emphasizing that there was no pressure for the safety to return if he does not feel like it, and he can go through his own pace concerning his recovery.
Hamlin will enter his third season in the NFL this year after getting selected by the Bills in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft as the 212th overall pick.
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