Buffalo Bills’ Damar Hamlin Reflects on 1st NFL Playoff Start After Cardiac Arrest: ‘Super Grateful’

Mar. 15, 2025

Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills.Photo:Al Pereira/Getty

Al Pereira/Getty

Damar Hamlinis grateful to be experiencing a major milestone in his football career.The Buffalo Bills safety, 26, made headlines when heexperienced cardiac arrestduring aMonday Night Footballgame against the Cincinnati Bengals on Jan. 2, 2023.Two years later, he took the field for his first NFL playoff start as the Bills faced off against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Jan. 12.“I’m just thankful for this moment, and I just want to be able to use the platform to give God all the glory,” Hamlintold NFL reporter Cameron Wolfeahead of the game at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y.“I’m super thankful to be able to be back in this position, to be back in the playoffs, you know what I mean, and having a role that matters, you know what I mean, and helping my team win,” he continued. “So I’m super thankful. I’m super grateful, and I’m gonna give God all the glory for sure.“During the 2023 incident, Hamlin collapsed after he tackled a player on the opposing team. Medics immediately rushed to the field to tend to him, performing CPR and administering oxygen before he was rushed to the hospital amid the first quarter of the game.While it was reported that Hamlin was in"critical condition"following the incident, he was discharged from the hospital on Jan. 11, 2023, and returned to his home just a week after his collapse.Damar Hamlin in November 2024.effrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via GettyDuring his lengthy recovery process, it was reported that Hamlin maintained an"upbeat and positive"attitude. He even paid several visits to the Bills' practice facility and reunited with his teammates after his hospital release.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.On Jan. 28, 2023, the then-recovering NFL starspoke out publicly for the first timein anInstagram video, and expressed his gratitude for everyone who helped to save his life during his medical emergency.“As I continue to make so much progress recovering, I think it’s finally a good time to share a few things,” he said at the time. “I think it was important for me to wait and speak publicly at the right time, as it was just a lot to process within my own self. Mentally, physically, even spiritually.““I can’t tell you how appreciative I am of all the love, all the support, and everything that’s just been coming in my way,” he continued. “What happened to me onMonday Night FootballI feel is a direct example of God using me as a vessel to share my passion and my love directly.“Damar Hamlin in October 2024.Al Pereira/GettyHamlin returned to the field for a regular-season NFL game on Oct. 1, 2023. After sitting out for the first three weeks of the 2023 season, the safety was used on the Bills' special teams for kick returns when they took on the Miami Dolphins.During aFebruary 2024 interview with PEOPLE, Hamlin reflected on his recovery and his odds-defying comeback to the NFL.“It was a journey. It was a journey of emotions,” he said. “It was very tough at first, but the things that got me through were these two words right here, sitting right here, just Don’t Quit.”

Damar Hamlinis grateful to be experiencing a major milestone in his football career.

The Buffalo Bills safety, 26, made headlines when heexperienced cardiac arrestduring aMonday Night Footballgame against the Cincinnati Bengals on Jan. 2, 2023.

Two years later, he took the field for his first NFL playoff start as the Bills faced off against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Jan. 12.

“I’m just thankful for this moment, and I just want to be able to use the platform to give God all the glory,” Hamlintold NFL reporter Cameron Wolfeahead of the game at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y.

“I’m super thankful to be able to be back in this position, to be back in the playoffs, you know what I mean, and having a role that matters, you know what I mean, and helping my team win,” he continued. “So I’m super thankful. I’m super grateful, and I’m gonna give God all the glory for sure.”

During the 2023 incident, Hamlin collapsed after he tackled a player on the opposing team. Medics immediately rushed to the field to tend to him, performing CPR and administering oxygen before he was rushed to the hospital amid the first quarter of the game.

While it was reported that Hamlin was in"critical condition"following the incident, he was discharged from the hospital on Jan. 11, 2023, and returned to his home just a week after his collapse.

Damar Hamlin in November 2024.effrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty

effrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty

During his lengthy recovery process, it was reported that Hamlin maintained an"upbeat and positive"attitude. He even paid several visits to the Bills' practice facility and reunited with his teammates after his hospital release.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

On Jan. 28, 2023, the then-recovering NFL starspoke out publicly for the first timein anInstagram video, and expressed his gratitude for everyone who helped to save his life during his medical emergency.

“As I continue to make so much progress recovering, I think it’s finally a good time to share a few things,” he said at the time. “I think it was important for me to wait and speak publicly at the right time, as it was just a lot to process within my own self. Mentally, physically, even spiritually.”

“I can’t tell you how appreciative I am of all the love, all the support, and everything that’s just been coming in my way,” he continued. “What happened to me onMonday Night FootballI feel is a direct example of God using me as a vessel to share my passion and my love directly.”

Damar Hamlin in October 2024.Al Pereira/Getty

Hamlin returned to the field for a regular-season NFL game on Oct. 1, 2023. After sitting out for the first three weeks of the 2023 season, the safety was used on the Bills' special teams for kick returns when they took on the Miami Dolphins.

During aFebruary 2024 interview with PEOPLE, Hamlin reflected on his recovery and his odds-defying comeback to the NFL.

“It was a journey. It was a journey of emotions,” he said. “It was very tough at first, but the things that got me through were these two words right here, sitting right here, just Don’t Quit.”

source: people.com