By: Wilton Jackson – SFL Team
Damar Hamlin knows all about Monday Night Football games.
Despite only two games of experience after the Buffalo Bills’ 47-10 rout of the Jacksonville Jaguars, if the NFL dished out academic degrees for contests on one of the most electrifying days of the week for football, the Buffalo Bills’ safety has a doctoral degree with concentrations in faith and perseverance. Traumatic experiences play a role in molding realities.
Some never conquer the fear from tragedy. However, when the lights lit up the field at Highmark Stadium for the Bills’ MNF contest against the Jags, the safety wasn’t paralyzed by possibility nor frozen in fear.
Hamlin was ready for a new moment, one that sparked a new chapter and gave him a new memory to add to his collection of future MNF tales he will share with his family members, future kids or grandkids. With 4:27 to play until halftime and Buffalo crushing Jacksonville 20-3, Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence faked the snap to running back Tank Bigsby and stood in the pocket waiting for one of his receivers to get open down field on the play action pass.
After a brief second, Lawrence stepped into his throw, launching the ball down the middle of the field over the outstretched hand of Brian Thomas Jr. and into the hands of Hamlin, who was in textbook position to make a play on the football. Lawrence’s interception became Hamlin’s moment of redemption.
“There is no words for it man,” Hamlin told ESPN’s Laura Rutledge during an on-field interview after the game. “I’m still processing it as I go.”
Faith can defy the odds of reality. Rewind 630 days to the Bills’ Monday Night Football game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium. It’s Jan. 2, 2023. After landing a routine tackle on wide receiver Tee Higgins, Hamlin stood to his feet before collapsing and suffering cardiac arrest from a rare commotio cordis condition that generates abnormal heart rhythms from heavy impacts to the chest.
Despite the near death experience, Hamlin reassured fans that he would return to the sport he’s loved since his days at Central Catholic High School in McKees Rocks, a community in the urban area of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Hamlin could have retired from football. With an increasing rate of players facing medical issues on the field and in their lives post football, Hamlin could have ended his football career with that memory.
But, he didn’t. The 6’0” safety played in five games in the ‘23 season in limited reserve and special teams capacity. He could have elected to hang up his cleats and start a new chapter.
Instead, Hamlin registered his first interception in his 37th NFL game. He’s now a starter on the Bills’ defense in his fourth season. This season, Hamlin has also tallied 19 tackles with 13 solo and defended two passes while playing in 97% of Buffalo’s defensive snaps, according to ESPN.
How did Hamlin continue writing his story? It wasn’t under his own power.
“…It’s all God right there,” Hamlin said in the Bills’ postgame news conference. “…To be able to come all the way back from that [cardiac arrest] and have a special moment. …“I’ve been giving him praise like crazy lately.”
While remaining rooted in faith, his teammates and Bills coach Sean McDermott also encouraged him to remain strong through the process.
“They [teammates and coaches] pushed me,” Hamlin said. “They loved me. They gave me grace. They gave me everything I needed on the journey. … The whole Bills’ organization was always there for me and supported me.”
Life presents all types of challenges. In the case for Hamlin, football nearly took his life.
But when he was presented with a second chance, Hamlin seized the moment. That’s the message.
No matter the circumstance, never give up when times are hard because on the other side of tribulations can often be the greatest testimonies in writing new life chapters. As Hamlin held the ball in his hand while running down the Bills’ sideline in jubilation and taking in a loud roar from Buffalo fans, his next chapter is still unfolding.
“I don’t want to be just known as the player who lived,” Hamlin told NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe. “I have so many more goals. And I feel unbreakable.”
With faith, support and a score of persistence like Hamlin’s, no challenge in life is too big to conquer.
