Damar Hamlin 'Super Thrilled' For Buffalo Bills' Return vs. Cincinnati Bengals
On Jan. 2, Damar Hamlin nearly lost his life on the turf of Paycor Stadium.
Now, after his miraculous recovery, Hamlin is set to return when the Buffalo Bills (5-3) hit the road to face the Cincinnati Bengals (4-3) on Sunday Night Football.
“I’m super thrilled," Hamlin told the Associated Press. "I’m super excited. I’m a thousand emotions. I’m every emotion, all the good ones and the bad ones. But there’s strength in that. And I think there’s strength in walking through the fire and walking into your fears.”
In the middle of the first quarter with the Bengals up 7-3, Hamlin made the tackle on Tee Higgins. The impact caused Hamlin's heart to go into commotio cordis, "an extremely rare, serious medical condition that can happen after a sudden, blunt impact to the chest," as said by the American Heart Association.
Damar Hamlin has played in one game this season.
© Gregory Fisher, USA TODAY
Hamlin fell lifelessly to the turf, and the Bills' medical staff immediately went into action, giving him CPR for nine minutes and used an AED, which brought him back to life. Their lifesaving efforts earned them the Pat Tillman Award For Service at the 2023 ESPYS on July 12.
Hamlin has since gone on a CPR tour this summer in New York, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati as a part of his charity, the Chasing M's Foundation. He's also helped distribute multiple AEDs in those three cities for youth sports and community organizations.
While a lot will be made of his return to the stadium where his life nearly ended, Hamlin's focus is on one thing.
"My focus is on getting a win,” Hamlin said. “That’s going to be my message to all of my teammates.”
