ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — The nerves Damar Hamlin felt before his first game in months quickly faded away as he heard the play call: Blitz.
In the first quarter of Buffalo’s preseason opener on Saturday, Hamlin made his mark by stopping Indianapolis Colts running back Evan Hull for no gain on a fourth-and-1 play. This was a significant moment for Hamlin, who had recently experienced a near-death incident on the field.
“It felt good. It for surely felt like a little weight off my shoulders,” Hamlin said after the game. “Amazing. It just makes me feel like I’m back in that element.”
Hamlin’s return to the game seemed unfathomable after his cardiac arrest during a game in Cincinnati in January. However, his remarkable comeback has brought him closer to resuming his playing career at just 25 years old.
During the game, Hamlin displayed no hesitancy or fear, finishing with three tackles. This achievement marked another milestone in his recovery, which began with his return to practice in May and his first contact session during training camp.
Coach Sean McDermott expressed his admiration for Hamlin, describing his journey as “remarkable.” He commended the young man’s courage, strength, and faith.
Before the game, Hamlin entered the stadium flashing his signature heart sign. Not even a brief delay caused by a thunderstorm could dampen his spirits. He played on Buffalo’s kickoff coverage unit and watched the second half from the sideline.
At the end of the game, Hamlin sought out his mother in the stands and presented her with his game jersey. Though he initially promised it to former teammate Isiah McKenzie, Hamlin felt his mother deserved it as she had always been his source of strength.
McKenzie expressed his joy at seeing Hamlin’s progress and was thrilled to be on the field with him. They shared a light moment during the game, laughing together.
Hamlin’s confidence has grown with each step of his recovery process. From waking up from a medically induced coma to being able to breathe on his own, he has overcome immense challenges. He was cleared to resume playing in April when he declared his comeback bid.
When asked about his next milestone, Hamlin kept his focus on the present and said, “Practice tomorrow.” However, he allowed himself to look ahead to Buffalo’s upcoming game against the Steelers in his hometown of Pittsburgh.
“I think it will probably be electric down there. I can’t wait,” he said.
Following two more preseason games, Hamlin’s next challenge will be to secure a spot on the Bills’ regular-season roster. With the goal of being a backup safety behind Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer, he aims to prove himself once again.
“It’s kind of like proving it to myself and just accepting a challenge of just being able to go through something so tough and just to be able to come back and overcome that,” Hamlin reflected on his journey.
He added, “And then just to prove to yourself that nothing can stop you from doing what you want to do and reaching the heights that you want to reach. It’ll be a long road, long journey as far as the goals that I’ve got for myself in this game. But today was definitely a step in the right direction.”
It is truly inspiring to witness Hamlin’s determination and resilience. With each game, he is proving that he can overcome any obstacle and achieve greatness in the sport he loves.