One of the highlights of the Buffalo Bills’ Week 1 win over the Arizona Cardinals this past Sunday involved Buffalo’s Damar Hamlin starting a regular-season game at safety for the first time since he went into cardiac arrest on the field back on Jan. 2, 2023.
Hamlin hopes his career eventually will be remembered for much more than what occurred during that fateful “Monday Night Football” contest.
“I don’t want to be just known as the player who lived,” Hamlin recently told Cameron Wolfe of the NFL’s website. “My story is my story. It’s still being written. But I want to be known for my abilities as well. I’ve always had big goals on and off the field. I have so much more that I want to accomplish.”
Hamlin acknowledged during his chat with Wolfe that he “died on national TV in front of the whole world.” That reality makes it all the more remarkable he earned a spot on Buffalo’s 53-man roster in August 2023 before he appeared in five regular-season games and Buffalo’s two playoff contests.
Hamlin recorded four total tackles and played 61 defensive snaps in the 34-28 victory over the Cardinals.
“I do still have flashbacks sometimes,” Hamlin said about the life-threatening incident that occurred at Paycor Stadium, home of the Cincinnati Bengals, two Januarys ago. “And within my day-to-day, I definitely think about it. I’ve learned to appreciate those moments in my life. But when I play a game now, those three hours, I’m only thinking about football.”
Despite his unprecedented return to action, Hamlin finished second in Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year Award voting for last season behind veteran quarterback Joe Flacco (then of the Cleveland Browns). While the 26-year-old in the final year of his rookie contract could have chips on his shoulders related to all he’s endured since January 2023, he seemingly is doing everything possible to focus on helping the Bills win games for as long as he’s associated with the franchise.
“I’m enjoying the process and every moment of this year,” Hamlin told Wolfe. “Putting the work in and truly diving into the grind. We’ll see what’s left behind, but I know I’ll be happy with the product.”
As of Thursday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook listed Hamlin as a +3500 betting underdog to claim the Comeback Player of the Year Award for this season. He may use such information as bulletin-board material as he looks to continue one of the best NFL-related stories of the 2020s.
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