From Tragedy to Triumph: Damar Hamlin Turns Near-Death NFL Moment into Life-Saving Mission

Written By: Jackie Rae

Heading into the New Year is often a time for reflection. For Damar Hamlin and football fans everywhere, this time of year will forever carry echoes of a terrifying moment. On January 2, 2023, the NFL world held its breath as the Buffalo Bills’ 25-year-old safety lay motionless on the field.

Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest after a blow to his chest caused his heart to stop—an extremely rare condition known as commotio cordis.

While Hamlin survived and has returned to the field, it is impossible to think that a brush with death left him unscathed. For Hamlin, the experience underscored the importance of the people around us—and the critical need to equip others with the tools to save lives when needed.

The former Pitt star has turned his personal ordeal into a mission for change. He took his story to Washington and advocated for the Access to AEDs Act, a measure aimed at providing schools with automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and ensuring proper training on their use. He’s also hosted clinics teaching CPR, hoping his experience will inspire others to prepare for the unexpected.

“My situation, what everyone’s seeing, was when protocol goes the right way,” Hamlin told Pittsburgh’s Action Sports. He added: “That’s not everybody’s reality, so I feel obligated to make sure that kids and families and parents don’t get to experience the other possibilities of what could happen. If all the right, proper preparation steps and all the proper things are in place—like having an AED available and having people around who know CPR—then all kids will be able to chase their dreams safely. That’s my goal.”

Hamlin has recorded over 40 solo tackles and two interceptions this season, helping the Buffalo Bills secure the best record in the AFC East. Through it all, he has demonstrated two powerful truths: fear doesn’t have to derail your dreams, and the lessons learned from tragedy can make life safer and better for everyone.

Damar Hamlin’s journey is a testament to resilience and purpose. After suffering cardiac arrest during an NFL game in January 2023, he could have stepped away from the sport that nearly cost him his life. Instead, Hamlin returned to the field, determined to turn his brush with death into a mission to save others. By advocating for life-saving measures like the Access to AEDs Act and hosting CPR clinics, he has used his platform to inspire awareness and action. His courage shows that tragedy can be transformed into a force for good, proving that setbacks can propel not just personal recovery but meaningful change for countless others.