Bills’ Damar Hamlin on return to football: ‘I really love this’
Bills safety Damar Hamlin completed his journey back to NFL gameplay in Buffalo’s preseason opener win against the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday.
After the win, he spoke of the game being a “step in the right direction”, while sharing how it felt to return to football.
“Just my first few plays in being pressures, and there’s my number being called,” Hamlin said to the press. “So, all of the jitters, all the nerves, that was like out the window right there, like right then and there. But it was good for me. It was able to get me going.”
The 25-year-old suffered a cardiac arrest on January 2nd during a Week 17 “Monday Night Football” game last season against the Cincinnati Bengals. He’s now succeeded in working his way back to the field.
“When I’m feeling those nerves and I’m feeling those emotions, it just means I, it means I love, I really love this,” he continued. “I love this, like, I want to be here. I want to play, I want to do good. I want to be one of the greats. I want to be remembered as somebody who, you know, stood for something and who made a difference when I was out there on the field.”
The third-year safety has been a full participant since the Bills OTAs in June and played with no hesitation during Saturday’s contest, seeing time at both special teams and finishing the day with 20 defensive snaps with the second unit to go with four special teams snaps.
He recorded three tackles, the first of which came on the second of consecutive blitzes where he made the tackle on Colts running back Evan Hull on fourth-and-1 to get the ball back for Buffalo.
Who else? Bills safety Damar Hamlin and co make a fourth down stop on the Colts offense. pic.twitter.com/AXVGZtvFLt
— Arye Pulli (@AryePulli) August 12, 2023
“What we just witnessed, to me, is remarkable,” head coach Sean McDermott said to the media after the game. “It really is. It’s a true sign of a young man’s courage and obviously, everyone who helped him get to this point. I know there was a football game going on out there today, but I mean truly remarkable display of courage and strength and faith. I had a chance to communicate with Damar a little bit last night, and he assured me he was ready to go. So, he trusts his preparation and God. I think that shows a lot about who he is.”
In all, Hamlin found his love of the game through the experience.
“It was super fun,” Hamlin said. “It was a great experience. Just another milestone and a step up just getting back to myself as far as in the football space and in the NFL.”
