Key facts
- Damar Hamlin experienced cardiac arrest in January 2023 while playing for the Buffalo Bills.
- Hamlin states that losing friends to gun violence and his father's incarceration were more significant adversities than his cardiac arrest.
- He returned to the NFL in October 2023 after recovering from the cardiac arrest and subsequent physical therapy.
- Hamlin now focuses on health, longevity, and legacy, aligning himself with initiatives like the Qunol's Champions at Heart Campaign.
- He has built his parents their dream home.
Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin has spoken about his experience of going into cardiac arrest on the field in January 2023. He describes the event, which was later diagnosed as Commotio cordis, as less stressful than other adversities he has faced, including losing friends to gun violence and his father's incarceration. Hamlin emphasizes that these prior challenges prepared him for adversity. After recovering and undergoing physical therapy, he returned to the NFL in October 2023. Hamlin now prioritizes his health, viewing it as a competitive advantage and focusing on longevity and legacy. He is involved with Qunol's Champions at Heart Campaign. He also shared personal lessons learned from his mother's resilience and dedication, noting that he was recently able to build his parents their dream home.