On January 2, 2023, NFL fans watched in horror as Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field while playing the Cincinnati Bengals. It turns out he had a cardiac arrest. Medical professionals worked on him for 20 minutes before transferring him to the hospital. He spend a week recovering in the hospital.
One year later, Damar is reflecting back on his experiences. He took to Instagram to share two never before seen photos. He also got a new tattoo to mark the occasion.
Damar posted a carousel of photos and videos. The two pictures that were new to his followers were a hospital selfie and one of him in a hospital bed giving the peace sign. There were also videos of his teammates cheering him on, social media posts, and a screenshot of an inspiring text message. “God’s Child ✝️ .. 1 year later ♂️ ,” Damar captioned it all.
Damar also got a new tattoo to commemorate the event. It shows two hands making the shape of a heart with an electrocardiogram and was created by celebrity tattoo artist Alexander Brenes. It is on the back of his neck.
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Damar returned to the football field in late August 2023. He played in the Bills’ preseason opener against the Indianapolis Colts. He made five tackles during the game.
Damar will always love football, but now also sees another purpose in life. "I feel like this whole situation, everything that happened to me, was all a part of a bigger plan and a bigger picture," Damar mused to the American Heart Association. "God [has] seen that my purpose is bigger than just football. Way bigger than just football. I always knew that. I've always felt like I was more than just an athlete and a football player and he gave me a purpose and something to stand for that's way bigger than just a game."
