Buffalo Bills’ star safety Damar Hamlin recently faced backlash for wearing a jacket at Super Bowl LVII that many deemed offensive. The jacket, a collaboration with the brand SAINT Mxxxxxx, featured an altered image of Jesus Christ on a crucifix, which was considered disrespectful by many. The jacket, called “Travis Jesus,” was sold for thousands of dollars.
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Hamlin had intended to convey that he was blessed and had risen from a life-threatening condition after suffering a cardiac arrest during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals in January. CPR was performed on him on the field before he was taken to the hospital, where he was in a life-threatening condition for several days before ultimately recovering. Nonetheless, his choice of the jacket was considered by many to be in poor taste and disrespectful to religious sentiments.
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Who is Damar Hamlin?
Damar Hamlin is an American football player who played college football as a safety for the University of Pittsburgh. He was born on February 21, 1998, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and attended Central Catholic High School in Pittsburgh.
During his college career, Hamlin played in 48 games and recorded 290 tackles, 5 interceptions, 24 pass breakups, and 4 forced fumbles. He was named first-team All-ACC in his senior year.
In the 2021 NFL Draft, Hamlin went undrafted but was later signed as an undrafted free agent by the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He made the team’s practice squad and was eventually promoted to the active roster later in the season.
Damar Hamlin profile summary
Damar Hamlin is an American football player who currently plays as a safety for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He was born on February 21, 1998, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and attended Central Catholic High School in Pittsburgh before committing to play college football at the University of Pittsburgh.
During his college career, Hamlin played in 48 games and recorded 290 tackles, 5 interceptions, 24 pass breakups, and 4 forced fumbles. He was named first-team All-ACC in his senior year.
Hamlin went undrafted in the 2021 NFL Draft but was later signed as an undrafted free agent by the Buffalo Bills. He made the team’s practice squad and was eventually promoted to the active roster later in the season.
Off the field, Hamlin graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in communications in 2020.
Early Life and Education
Damar Hamlin was born on February 21, 1998, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He attended Central Catholic High School in Pittsburgh, where he played football as a safety and was named to the All-State team twice.
After graduating from high school, Hamlin committed to playing college football at the University of Pittsburgh. During his time at Pittsburgh, he played in 48 games and recorded 290 tackles, 5 interceptions, 24 pass breakups, and 4 forced fumbles. He was named first-team All-ACC in his senior year.
Hamlin graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in communications in 2020.
Professional Career
Damar Hamlin went undrafted in the 2021 NFL Draft, but he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Buffalo Bills on May 6, 2021.
Hamlin initially made the team’s practice squad but was eventually promoted to the active roster on November 30, 2021, ahead of the team’s game against the New England Patriots. He made his NFL debut on December 6, 2021, in the Bills’ game against the New England Patriots, in which he played on special teams.
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Hamlin finished his rookie season with the Bills having played in 5 games, all on special teams, and recorded 2 tackles. He is currently under contract with the Bills for the 2022 season.
In-game collapse
On January 2, 2023, during a Week 17 Monday Night Football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field at 8:56 p.m. EST after tackling wide receiver Tee Higgins, requiring immediate emergency medical treatment.
The play began with Higgins catching a pass from Joe Burrow near the 50-yard line and running downfield, leading with his right shoulder, which collided with Hamlin’s chest. Despite making a seemingly routine tackle, Hamlin stood up momentarily before passing out and falling backwards.
Hamlin remained motionless at midfield while team trainers and paramedics rushed to his side within ten seconds. First responders initiated CPR, automated external defibrillation (AED), and other treatments for ten minutes. Hamlin was administered oxygen and an intravenous solution (IV), and an ambulance was brought onto the field for further assistance. Most players from both teams came off the sidelines to kneel or stand near Hamlin, visibly upset and emotional about his status.
Initial reports suggested that the hit to Hamlin’s chest likely caused commotion cordis, but no official confirmation has been provided as to the cause of the cardiac arrest. When asked about the cause, Hamlin declined to comment.
After being transported by ambulance to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Hamlin was reported to be in critical condition and was intubated. The Bills later reported that Hamlin had initially suffered cardiac arrest and his heartbeat was restored on-field.
Personal life of Damar Hamlin
There is limited publicly available information about Damar Hamlin’s personal life. However, it is known that he was born and raised in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area, and attended Central Catholic High School in Pittsburgh before playing college football at the University of Pittsburgh.
Hamlin has been vocal about his love for his hometown and has used his platform as a professional athlete to give back to the Pittsburgh community. In 2021, he participated in a charity event benefiting the Boys and Girls Club of Western Pennsylvania, and he has also spoken publicly about the importance of giving back to the community.
Aside from his community involvement, there is not much information publicly available about Hamlin’s personal life, as he tends to keep his private life out of the public eye.
