Damar Hamlin’s Journey After Cardiac Arrest
People remember that shocking moment all too well.
Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest during a routine tackle in January 2023, while playing a Monday Night Football game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
The atmosphere at Paycor Stadium turned somber, and viewers gasped as Hamlin received immediate CPR and defibrillation to revive his heartbeat right on the field.
He made a remarkable comeback to the regular season nine months later, and when he steps onto the field again this year, he’ll have a fresh set of tools to elevate his performance.
“In 2026, I told myself that the love I would give to the world would start with loving myself first,” the 28-year-old Hamlin shared. “You can’t fill someone else’s cup until you fill your own. So it’s essential to have someone to talk to—to empty your glass.”
An Exciting Turning Point
The game against the Bengals marked a transformative moment for Hamlin.
Following his collapse, he was put into a medically induced coma for two days and remained on a ventilator, spending additional days in the hospital.
He was diagnosed with commotio cordis, a rare condition that disrupts the heart’s rhythm due to a sudden impact to the chest.
In that moment, he gained a crash course in cardiology.
Hamlin refocused his energy toward important training in performing chest compressions and using automated external defibrillators (AEDs), which can greatly improve survival chances in cardiac arrest situations.
His initiatives have taken him to places like Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Tokyo, and India for similar cardiac training activities.
Currently, he and his foundation are engaged with nutritional supplement brands, partnering with Qunol to surprise community heroes through personal video calls as part of the “Champions at Heart” campaign.
“Knorr is reshaping what it means to be a champion of the heart, for everyone, not just elite athletes,” Hamlin elaborated.
Finding a New Rhythm
Many people are eager to connect with Hamlin.
He remarked that wherever he goes, he feels like an A-list celebrity.
“People approach me to share their stories and what they’ve overcome,” he noted. “I always try to stay grounded and humble, valuing these moments because I understand they can be life-changing for others.”
Reflecting on his own mindset, Hamlin is increasingly aware of his thoughts. The heart issue has inspired him to stop “wasting time.”
“Moments without meaning, moments without purpose,” he stressed. “There are also some personal habits I prefer not to discuss.”
This year, he’s focusing on small choices that can lead to meaningful changes, including introducing nervous system training into his routine.
Resetting the nervous system involves calming an overactive fight-or-flight response through methods like deep breathing, cold exposure, physical activity, and nature time.
Hamlin appreciates a simple shoulder release that alleviates accumulated tension from stress.
“We carry so much with us daily,” he remarked.
Following His Heart
This has never been truer for Hamlin, who has kept a packed schedule for the past three years.
Alongside the work of his foundation and the Qunol campaign, he appeared in two Hallmark Channel films last year, “Holiday Touchdown: Bill’s Love Story” and “The More the Merrier,” as part of his ambassador role for Abbott Heartmates.
Hamlin’s ambitions seem limitless.
“My parents often had to rein in my wild ideas because I’m quite the outlandish thinker,” he said. “I love brainstorming crazy concepts and bringing them to life.”
Perhaps he has a future in cardiology or another area of medicine in mind.
“I feel like I’m an astronaut in this journey,” he said. “Why not?”
