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WATCH: Damar Hamlin Forces Key Turnover Against Baltimore Ravens

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Former Pitt safety Damar Hamlin.

Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen are locked in a battle of the top MVP candidates this season, but former Pitt safety Damar Hamlin is standing out through the first half.

Hamlin has stuffed the stat sheet in the first half and perhaps no play has been more important than his strip-sack of Jackson, leading to a scoop and almost score for Bills defensive end Von Miller.

The strip-sack led to a 1-yard touchdown and gave the Bills an early 14-7 lead.

Hamlin has three tackles (two solo), two tackles for loss, sack and a forced fumble through the midway point of the second quarter of the Divisional round, helping the Bills to a strong first half.

Damar Hamlin started all 14 regular games he played this season, bouncing back in a major way for the Bills. He racked up 89 tackles (62 solo), two tackles for loss, two interceptions, five pass breakups and a fumble recovery.

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 — and was inserted into the starting lineup this 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 the 2023 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. And now he is.

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.

Sandy Schall, Coldwell Banker

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