Damar Hamlin is a sixth-round pick, a two-time NFLPA Community MVP, and a cardiac arrest survivor. Three years after a routine tackle on Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins stopped his heart on a Monday Night Football field in Cincinnati, the Buffalo Bills safety says he’s approaching the year with a different mindset.<\/p>\n
“I told myself, in 2026, I’m giving myself the love that I give the world first,” Hamlin, 28, told The New York Post<\/a>. “You can’t fill others’ cups until you fill yours.”<\/p>\n The tackle happened on January 2, 2023. Hamlin stood up, then collapsed. He’d suffered commotio cordis, a rare condition where a blow to the chest disrupts the heart’s rhythm<\/a>. Medical staff administered CPR and used a defibrillator on the field before he spent two days sedated in critical condition. Nine days later, he was discharged from the hospital<\/a>.<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfac SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox<\/a> \ud83c\udfac<\/p>\n His 2024 season was his best as a pro. Hamlin started 14 games, led all Bills safeties with a career-high 874 defensive snaps<\/a> while recording 89 tackles, two interceptions, and five pass breakups. He re-signed with Buffalo in March 2025 on a one-year, $2 million deal. “This is home, this is all I know as a pro,” he told NBC Sports<\/a>. “This is the place I want to be, where I want to spend my whole career if I can.”<\/p>\n The 2025 season was cut short by a pectoral injury that landed him on injured reserve in October<\/a> after five games. He was designated for return in January but didn’t suit up in the playoffs.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcaa SIGN UP for tips to stay healthy & fit with the top moves, clean eats, health trends & more delivered right to your inbox twice a week<\/a> \ud83d\udcaa<\/p>\n Hamlin has spent most of the last three years pouring into everyone else. Through his Chasing M’s Foundation, he has pushed for CPR training and AED access across the country and internationally<\/a>, including advocacy work in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Tokyo, and India.<\/p>\n On his 28th birthday<\/a>, he expanded his Heroes Scholarship \u2014 named after the 10 medical professionals who saved his life \u2014 to his alma mater, Central Catholic High School in Pittsburgh, committing $15,000 annually. “Someone saw something in me before the world did, and now I’m in the position to do the same,” he said in a statement to Yardbarker<\/a>.<\/p>\n The NFL star also appeared in two Hallmark Channel movies<\/a> in 2024 as an Abbott HeartMates ambassador, and is working with supplement brand Qunol on its Champions at Heart initiative, which connects him with everyday community heroes. “Going through what I went through changed my perspective,” Hamlin said. “For me, it’s not just about football or performance, it’s about purpose.”<\/p>\n \ud83c\udf73 SIGN UP to get delicious recipes, handy kitchen hacks & fun food news in our daily Pop Kitchen newsletter<\/a> \ud83c\udf73<\/p>\n He told The Post<\/a> he’s added nervous system training to his regimen this year and has been prioritizing what he calls “microdecisions,” small daily choices that add up. One technique: bouncing his shoulders for a minute or two to release tension. “We carry so much with us throughout the day,” he explained.<\/p>\n On March 27, the Bills announced they\u2019d re-signed Hamlin to another one-year deal<\/a>, bringing him back for a sixth season in Buffalo. It\u2019s the second straight offseason he\u2019s bet on himself with a one-year contract. But football is just one part of the picture. \u201cI see myself being an astronaut, too,” he revealed. “Why not?\u201d<\/p>\n Related: Read Next<\/a><\/p>\n This story was originally published by Parade<\/a> on Mar 28, 2026, where it first appeared in the News<\/a> section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Damar Hamlin is a sixth-round pick, a two-time NFLPA Community MVP, and a cardiac arrest survivor. 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