DH #3

Damar Hamlin

Safety · Pittsburgh

The Buffalo safety who survived an on-field cardiac arrest in January 2023 and returned to become a full-time starter and CPR-awareness advocate.

Damar Hamlin's story transcends football. A sixth-round pick out of Pittsburgh, he suffered commotio cordis and went into cardiac arrest during a January 2023 game against the Cincinnati Bengals, an incident that stopped the sports world. He has since returned to the field as a full-time starter for the Bills while becoming one of the league's most visible advocates for CPR training.

★ Second-Team All-ACC (2020, Pittsburgh)

★ Two-time NFLPA Community MVP

★ Survived on-field cardiac arrest in January 2023 and returned to full-time starting duty

★ Helped set a Guinness World Record for CPR training participation at the 2026 NFL Draft

Path to the league

Hamlin was a top defensive back recruit who chose Pittsburgh over Ohio State and Penn State, becoming a three-year starter at safety. In his final college season in 2020, he was a second-team All-ACC selection after leading the Panthers with 67 tackles and seven pass breakups. Buffalo drafted him in the sixth round (212th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Career highlights

Hamlin collapsed on the field on January 2, 2023, after a collision with Bengals receiver Tee Higgins, receiving CPR before his heartbeat was restored and he was transported to the hospital. He returned to action later that year and has since become a two-time NFLPA Community MVP for his advocacy work, including helping set a Guinness World Record for the most people to complete CPR training in one hour at the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh.

2025 season recap

Building on a breakout 2024 season in which he started 14 games with 89 tackles, two interceptions, and five pass breakups, Hamlin re-signed with Buffalo in March 2025 on a one-year deal and continued as a regular contributor in the Bills' secondary.