As the NFL handed out its top awards to the league’s best players, Damar Hamlin delivered a much deeper honor.
The Bills safety gave an emotional speech during the NFL Honors on Thursday night, recognizing the first responders and doctors that helped save his life on Jan. 2. and the ensuing days after.
The 24-year-old Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest and collapsed after making a seemingly-routine tackle of Tee Higgins during a Bills’ “Monday Night Football” matchup against the Bengals. After getting back to his feet following the hit, Hamlin fell back to the ground. He was administered CPR on the field and rushed to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center by ambulance in critical condition. Hamlin woke up from sedation late in the evening on Jan. 4, and returned home on Jan. 11.
“Every day, I am amazed that my experiences could encourage so many others across the country, and even across the world,” Hamlin said. “Encourage to pray, encourage to spread love, and encourage to keep fighting, no matter the circumstances. Sudden cardiac arrest was nothing that I would have ever chosen to be a part of my story. But that’s because sometimes, our own visions are too small, even when we think we are seeing the bigger picture. My vision was about playing in the NFL, and being the best player that I could be. But God’s plan, was to have a greater purpose than any game in this world.”
Before he entered the stage, the awards show played a lengthy montage detailing the medical staff’s efforts, and then welcomed members of the Bills and Bengals training and medical staffs as well as the University of Cincinnati Medical Center to the stage.
Legendary Bills quarterback Jim Kelly, who was presenting the participants on stage, announced “You know them as Team Damar,” before they were met with raucous applause from the audience.
“My entire life, I felt like God was using me to give others hope,” Hamlin said. “And now with a new set of circumstances, I can only say he’s doing what he’s always done. I have a long journey ahead. A journey full of unknowns, and a journey full of milestones. But it’s a lot easier to face your fears, when you know your purpose.”
It was Hamlin’s second time being honored this week, after receiving the Alan Page Community Award on Wednesday for his work raising more than $9 million for his Chasing M’s Foundation.
Hamlin went out of his way to specifically praise one ICU doctor at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, whom he said offered him inspiration.
On Wednesday, medical director for the NFL Players Association Thom Mayer said he “guarantees” Hamlin will be able to return to football.
“He told me had a similar experience. He showed me he was OK, and that meant so much to me. There was so much uncertainty at the time, and just him coming to me, showing that I can live a normal life again, it meant so much to me in the moment. So I want to give a big thank you to him, and a special thank you to everyone on this stage, for everything they did for me. And thank you for everyone around the country and around the world who prayed for me and hoped for me. The journey will continue.”
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