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Buffalo Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin is receiving one of the NFL’s highest honors.
Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest on the field during a Monday Night Football game between the Bills and Cincinnati Bengals on January 2. The medical team at the stadium immediately sprung into action to perform life-saving CPR on the field before transporting him to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.
The medical staff has been honored with the key to the city and was on the field prior to Super Bowl LVII, and now the NFL is honoring the 25-year-old.
This week, it was announced that Hamlin has been named the recipient of the George Halas Award for overcoming adversity.
Damar Hamlin has been named the winner of the 2023 George Halas Award, the Pro Football Writers of America announced Monday.
The award is given annually to the NFL player, coach or staff member who overcomes the most adversity to succeed ❤️ https://t.co/6RliBvVW98 pic.twitter.com/JnY00Auxoh
— ESPN (@espn) May 15, 2023
Hamlin has been medically cleared to play again, and he hopes to make a comeback to the NFL.
“This was a life-changing event, but it’s not the end of my story,”Hamlin said, via ESPN.com. “I plan on making a comeback to the NFL.”
Since his recovery from the frightening incident — which is known as commotio cardis — Hamlin has been meeting with lawmakers to make a change. He has even met with President Joe Biden.
Hamlin has visited Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. to push lawmakers to put more AEDs in schools across the country, while also starting a campaign to spread CPR awareness and training with the American Heart Association.
