After suffering a cardiac arrest episode during a Monday Night Football game in January, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin has made his triumphant return to the football field.
Hamlin suited up for Buffalo’s home preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday, completing his miraculous comeback after suffering his life-threatening health scare.
His story has become one of the most inspiring in the NFL in some time, and it’s even sparked an advocacy effort to get life-saving automated external defibrillators in all athletic facilities across the country.
Hamlin has already received a hero’s welcome from Bills fans during training camp, and his return to actual NFL gameplay stands as one of the best moments we’ll see in sports this year.
For the first time since last season, Damar Hamlin is out on the field. đ«¶#INDvsBUF | #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/l2dKdNh7De
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) August 12, 2023
Welcome back, @HamlinIsland đ«¶3ïžâŁ pic.twitter.com/jx5qUxPK3g
— NFL (@NFL) August 12, 2023
Hamlin even helped his team’s defense get a fourth-down stop on the Colts during the game’s first quarter.
Damar Hamlin in on the stop on fourth and short. The comeback is complete. pic.twitter.com/RFrhhjazNP
— alex brasky (@alexbrasky) August 12, 2023
Damar Hamlin makes the tackle on 4th and 1 to end the Colts' drive. Lots of high 5s from teammates as he runs off the field.
— katherine fitzgerald (@kfitz134) August 12, 2023
Hamlin’s jersey also adorned the windows of a game ambulance in the tunnel at Buffalo’s Highmark Stadium, honoring the men and women whose swift medical actions helped save Hamlin’s life.
Really cool here. The ambulance in the tunnel at Highmark Stadium has Damar Hamlinâs jersey number in the windows. Hamlin is playing today against the #Colts for the first time since he collapsed against the Bengals last season. @WTHRcom pic.twitter.com/d540K8ACo2
— Dominic Miranda (@DomMirandaTV) August 12, 2023
After such a long journey to get back on the field, Hamlin can finally get back to his NFL career. This time, he’ll have fans from all 32 NFL teams cheering on his success.