It’s been quite the journey for Damar Hamlin over the last two years, but he’s poised to enter the 2024-25 season as the Buffalo Bills’ starting strong safety.
Hamlin is listed as a starting safety on the Bills’ updated depth chart ahead of Week 1. The Bills are scheduled to host the Arizona Cardinals at Highmark Stadium on Sunday.
Hamlin and fellow safety Taylor Rapp are slated to enter the season as the starting duo, which is quite a change from the long-time duo of Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer. But Hamlin does have starting experience in the Bills’ secondary.
Hamlin served as a reserve safety for the Bills last season. He was active for five regular season games last season, recording two tackles (all solo) and played in both of the Bills’ playoff games — recording two tackles against the Kansas City Chiefs. He finished second (receiving more first-place votes than the eventual winner Joe Flacco) in the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award voting.
It’s a miracle he played at all last season after he went into cardiac arrest during a Monday Night Football Game against the Cincinnati Bengals in January of 2023, with the Bills training staff saving his life on the field at Paycor Stadium.
He finished last season with two tackles, and then played in 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. It was a triumphant return for Hamlin and all of those who were involved in his recovery.
But of course, Hamlin wanted to be more than just a good story — he wanted to get back to making an impact on the football field.
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.
Damar 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.
Great news. Remarkable. So happy for the young man.
Good for him.
He should be the reigning Comeback Player of the Year. Flacco straight robbed him.