Is Damar Hamlin playing? How Bills safety became starter in 2024 after cardiac arrest

Bryan Murphy

Is Damar Hamlin playing? How Bills safety became starter in 2024 after cardiac arrest image

There hopefully will never be a story in the NFL again like Damar Hamlin. But it's an exceptional one that deserves to be recognized, even 20 months after that frightening night in 2023. 

Hamlin completed one of the most remarkable comebacks that the NFL world has ever seen during the 2023 NFL season when he returned to the Bills despite suffering an on-field cardiac arrest against the Bengals in January. Despite his collapse and subsequent hospital stay, he has been able to make a recovery that doctors called "remarkable."

He got back onto the field last year, seeing limited action for Buffalo throughout the 2023 season. However, he now not only is making more of an impact, but he begins the 2024 season as one of the starting safeties for the Bills — something that seemed impossible less than two years ago. 

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Here is what to know about Hamlin's sensational comeback and recovery from the cardiac arrest. 

Damar Hamlin comeback timeline

On Jan. 2, 2023, Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest after tackling Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins during the Week 17 "Monday Night Football" game between Buffalo and Cincinnati. 

Hamlin initially got to his feet before collapsing to the ground. Bills medical staffers quickly attended to the safety on the field, and a stretcher and ambulance came out to treat him. He received CPR from members of the training staffs. 

Hamlin was taken to University of Cincinnati Medical Center, while the game was suspended and later postponed. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said Hamlin was in "critical condition" during his postponement announcement. 

With the game over, members of the Bills organization went to visit Hamlin in the hospital the same night. 

Late in the evening, the Bills officially announced that Hamlin went into cardiac arrest on the field, but his heart was restored. He was in the intensive care unit at the hospital and listed in critical condition.

The Hamlin family released a statement the next day via Hamlin's marketing rep and family friend Jordon Rooney, thanking the first responders and those across the country offering love and support. They did not immediately provide an update on Hamlin's condition.

On behalf of our family, we want to express our sincere gratitude for the love and support shown to Damar during this challenging time. We are deeply moved by the prayers, kind words, and donations from fans around the country.

We also want to acknowledge the dedicated first responders and healthcare professionals at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center who have provided exceptional care to Damar. We feel so blessed to be part of the Buffalo Bills organization and to have their support. We also want to thank Coach Taylor and the Bengals for everything they've done.

Your generosity and compassion mean the world to us. 

Please keep Damar in your prayers. We will release updates as soon as we have them.

Hamlin's condition improved in the days following the incident. He had opened his eyes by Thursday night, three days after the incident. Dr. Timothy Pritts from the UC College of Medicine said that the medical personnel reached a "turning point" and that Hamlin showed "substantial improvement."

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On Friday, Jan. 6, the Bills reported that Hamlin's breathing tube was removed overnight. He was talking to his family and "progressing remarkably in his recovery."

Additionally, the Bills reported that Hamlin was able to FaceTime into one of the Bills' meetings ahead of their game against the Patriots.

Hamlin posted an Instagram message on Jan. 7, thanking everyone for the support and love he received while he was in the hospital, and he posted on X, formerly Twitter, the next day. 

After a week at UC Medical Center, Hamlin was released and transferred to Buffalo General Medical Center. Two days later, he was released from the hospital after a "comprehensive medical evaluation."

Hamlin eventually re-joined the team in the locker room ahead of the resumed game against the Bengals, which occurred on Jan. 22. He received a resounding ovation from the fans at Highmark Stadium. 

After a summer of recovery, Hamlin got back onto the practice field during the 2023 training camp and preseason. On August 12, 2023, Hamlin played his first NFL snap since his cardiac arrest, suiting up for the Bills' preseason opener against the Raiders

He made the team's 53-man roster, getting his first snaps in a regular season game during Week 4 against the Dolphins. However, he was inactive for most of the 2023 NFL season, due to a loaded safety room in Buffalo that consisted of Micah Hyde, Jordan Poyer, Taylor Rapp and Cam Lewis. As a result, Hamlin played in just five games. 

Is Damar Hamlin playing in 2024?

With Hamlin back to full health, he now has a pathway to getting starting reps for Buffalo in the 2024 season, thanks to the departures of Poyer and Hyde. Hamlin entered the 2024 season as a starter for the Bills along with Rapp in the Buffalo secondary. His start in Week 1 against the Cardinals marked his first start since the cardiac arrest.

In a recent NFL.com interview, Hamlin explained that he wants to be known for more than what happened on Jan. 2, 2023, adding that his increased role is only the beginning of what he hopes to achieve with Buffalo.

"My story is my story. It's still being written," Hamlin said. "But I want to be known for my abilities as well. I've always had big goals on and off the field. I have so much more that I want to accomplish." 

Hamlin's role — and performance — against Arizona are a sign that he is well on his way.

Bryan Murphy

Bryan Murphy Photo

Bryan Murphy joined The Sporting News in 2022 as the NHL/Canada content producer. Previously he worked for NBC Sports on their national news desk reporting on breaking news for the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL, in addition to covering the 2020 and 2022 Olympic Games. A graduate of Quinnipiac University, he spent time in college as a beat reporter covering the men’s ice hockey team.