Buffalo Bills Make Major Announcement on Safety Damar Hamlin

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin has reached another major milestone in his remarkable journey back to playing in the NFL.

After a life-threatening incident nearly 20 months ago, Hamlin has officially been named a starter at safety for the Bills' regular-season opener against the Arizona Cardinals. It will be his first start since he suffered cardiac arrest while making what appeared to be a routine tackle during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals in January 2023.

Bills head coach Sean McDermott confirmed Hamlin's promotion, announcing that he’ll be paired with Taylor Rapp in the starting lineup.

“What else can’t this young man do?” McDermott said. “It’s one thing to come back from an ACL or a broken bone. It’s another thing to come back from what he went through, let alone decide to play contact football again.”

Hamlin’s journey to this moment has been anything but easy.

Thanks to quick medical attention from first responders, he was revived on the field and later diagnosed with commotio cordis, a rare condition caused by a direct blow to the chest.

Though Hamlin wasn’t guaranteed a starting role, he fought his way through Bills camp, outlasting competition from veterans and rookies alike.

“My mind is free. My spirit is free. My soul is free,” Hamlin said. “I’m able to think clearly. I’m not hindered by second thoughts of what could happen again.”

Now, Hamlin is ready to return to the field in a bigger role than ever, proving once again that his resilience knows no bounds.

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