Damar Hamlin is an American football safety for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at the University of Pittsburgh and was drafted by the Bills in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Hamlin was born in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, and attended Central Catholic High School. He was a four-year starter at safety for the Vikings, and was named a two-time all-state selection. Hamlin was also a two-time all-conference selection, and was named the WPIAL Class AAAA Defensive Player of the Year in 2016.
Hamlin attended the University of Pittsburgh, where he played for the Panthers from 2016 to 2020. He was a four-year starter at safety, and was named a two-time All-ACC selection. Hamlin was also a two-time Academic All-ACC selection, and was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2020.
Hamlin was drafted by the Bills in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He made his NFL debut in Week 1 of the 2021 season against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Hamlin finished his rookie season with 59 tackles, two interceptions, and a forced fumble.
In 2022, Hamlin became a starter for the Bills. He finished the season with 98 tackles, three interceptions, and a forced fumble. Hamlin was named to the Pro Bowl as a special teams contributor.
Hamlin is a versatile safety who can play both free safety and strong safety. He is a good tackler and has good ball skills. Hamlin is also a good special teams player.
Hamlin is a young, talented safety who has the potential to be a star in the NFL. He is a key member of the Bills’ defense, and he is expected to continue to be a productive player in the years to come.
On January 2, 2023, Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest after making a tackle during a Monday Night Football game against the Cincinnati Bengals. He was resuscitated on the field and taken to the hospital, where he was treated and released. Hamlin made a full recovery and returned to play in the 2023 season.
Hamlin is a strong advocate for cardiac health awareness. He has spoken about his experience with cardiac arrest and has encouraged others to get screened for heart conditions. Hamlin is also involved in several charitable organizations that support people with heart disease.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Randy Cooper has been in marketing technology more than 35 years. He has a Bachelors of Science in Information Technology, with a focus on web development, from the University of Phoenix. He has a Masters in Business Administration, with a focus on digital marketing, from Liberty University. In 2009, Randy founded Buzz My Biz, a consulting company focused on giving enterprise-level marketing results to small and medium-sized businesses. When he isn’t pounding away on a keyboard, he enjoys watching the Atlanta⚾️Braves, hiking, and working in the yard.
