Former Pitt defensive back Damar Hamlin made the Buffalo Bills 53-man roster, according to a report from Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
Hamlin stepped up last season for the Bills, with safety Micah Hyde out for most of the season. He recorded 91 tackles (63 solo), six tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two pass breakups and a forced fumble in 15 games last — starting every game in the Bills’ secondary from Week 3 onward.
In a Week 17 Monday night game against the Cincinnati Bengals on the road, Hamlin collapsed to the field after suffering a cardiac arrest. He has made a comeback from an almost near death experience on the field just seven months ago to now coming back and playing full-time.
Hamlin also raised millions for his charity, Chasing M’s, which he created to help bring money in for children for McKees Rocks. He received the 2023 NFLPA Alan Page Community Award for his charity work, as well as the George Halas Award, for the player who overcame the most adversity.
In five seasons at Pitt, he recorded 275 tackles (185 solo), 10 tackles for loss, six interceptions, 21 pass breakups and a fumble recovery. He earned Second Team All-ACC honors in 2020 as a redshirt senior, as he made 66 tackles, 38 solo, 3.5 tackles for loss, seven passes defended and two interceptions.
Damar Hamlin also played against his hometown Pittsburgh Steelers recently, recording three tackles in the loss in their second week of preseason. He managed to meet up with head coach Pat Narduzzi, safeties coach Cory Sanders and secondary coach Archie Collins before kickoff.
Buffalo faces off against AFC East rival in the New York Jets on Monday, Sept. 11 at Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. to open the season. Hamlin should be second on the depth chart behind Hyde and safety Jordan Poyer, so he’ll see some snaps here and there throughout the game.