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Former Pitt DB Damar Hamlin Wants to Play in Pittsburgh Again

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Former Pitt and current Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin and Pat Narduzzi

Damar Hamlin is still under contract with the Buffalo Bills for another season, but at a recent Steel City Collectibles event, he said he’d like to potentially end his career as a Pittsburgh Steeler.

Hamlin, who starred at Central Catholic in high school and Pitt in college, has obvious ties to the city of Pittsburgh. And while he may not do so in 2024, it’s clear he’d like to return to Pittsburgh before his playing career is over.

“I think ending my career, finishing as a Pittsburgh Steeler would be a dream,” Hamlin said over the weekend. “I played at Pitt, so you know I was in the stadium. I played at Heinz Field probably for like eight years straight between WPIAL championships and Pitt so a dream come true would be finishing my career as a Steeler.”

Hamlin is a reserve safety for the Bills, active for five regular season games last season, recording two tackles (two solo), and he played in both of the Bills’ playoff games — recording two tackles against the Kansas City Chiefs. He finished second, actually receiving more first place votes than the winner, in the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award.

It’s a miracle he played at all this season after he went into cardiac arrest during a Monday Night Football game against the Cincinnati Bengals in January of 2023.

He finished last season with two tackles, and he added two more during the Bills playoff run, but his impact on the field was secondary to his ability to simply step onto the field and play in a football game this season. It was a triumphant return for Hamlin and all of those who were involved in his recovery.

Hamlin recorded 91 tackles (63 solo), six tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two pass breakups and a forced fumble in 15 games in 2022 — starting every game in the Bills’ secondary from Week 3 onward. And he filled in admirably in an injury-stricken Bills secondary.

Hamlin originally committed to Pitt as a four-star recruit out of Pittsburgh Central Catholic, choosing Pitt over an offer from just about every major college in the country, and he would grow into one of the top safeties in college football during his time in Pittsburgh.

In five seasons at Pitt, he recorded 275 tackles (185 solo), 10 tackles for loss, six interceptions, 21 pass breakups and a fumble recovery.

It wasn’t the most star-studded season for Hamlin, but it was a massive success just to return to the football field — even if he didn’t earn Comeback Player of the Year. And it may eventual lead to a return to Pittsburgh.

Sandy Schall, Coldwell Banker

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