Damar Hamlin’s 2024 Proved He’s More Than Just A Comeback Story
Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
January 2, 2023 still feels surreal. The heavily anticipated Buffalo Bills – Cincinnati Bengals matchup, a game I was in attendance for, ended prematurely because Damar Hamlin’s heart stopped.
The entire nation was glued to their phones looking for updates on Hamlin’s condition in the immediate aftermath and praying that he would make it through. I felt compelled to stop walking back to my car from the game to watch for any sign of good news through the window at a nearby restaurant.
Since that night, Hamlin has not only made a full recovery, which would be an incredible story in itself. In 2024, however, he was far from a mere feel-good comeback story. He has changed the narrative of his career, going from a depth player to proving he can be a good, regular contributor on a great team. Hamlin finished second on the Bills in defensive snaps (976) and ranked third on the team in total tackles (89), showing that he’s capable of making a continued and consistent impact.
Hamlin made a game-altering play in the Divisional Round matchup when he strip-sacked Lamar Jackson, despite not registering a sack in the regular season. Perfect timing. Von Miller picked up the loose change and dashed down the field to set up the Bills’ offense for their first lead of the night, which they wouldn’t relinquish.
This is the fastest Von Miller ran since the NFL combine lmao
— Grace (@gracesporttakes) January 20, 2025
It was a moment that showed just how hard he’d worked to not just get back on the field, but carve out a place for himself as an NFL starter. “People knew I had overcome so much adversity,” Hamlin told Greg Bishop of Sports Illustrated. “I was symbolic, in a way. But I really wanted to grow as a football player.”
The Bills ultimately came up short in the AFC Championship Game, where Hamlin’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs wasn’t his strongest. However, his season-long contributions proved that he’s a worthy contributor, as he set career-highs in passes defended (5) and interceptions (2), in addition to registering the first fumble recovery of his career.
“I’m not here to get cardio,” Hamlin said after the Bills’ playoff exit in 2023. “I want to make a difference on the team. I want to be a leader. I want to have high expectations … for me. And I’m coming back for camp in that mindset.
In the same way that James Cook has shown this year that he’s no longer just “Dalvin Cook’s little brother,” Hamlin has successfully worked to overcome the label of merely being a Comeback Player of the Year (though, he is a finalist for the award again). Hamlin now gets to be just another good player on a great team. He’s a capable starting safety who is comfortable enough in the spotlight to make an impact when needed. He’s made the most of his second chance, which is the entire point of making a comeback to begin with.
“I’m gonna miss this season, because football truly brings out the best in me,” Hamlin said before the AFC title match. “I want to put it all together, within my entire life.”
Even with the ups and downs that the Bills had on defense, Hamlin has become a mainstay in Bobby Babich’s defensive scheme, and Babich has kept a belief in him throughout his Bills career.
“Damar’s a pro,” Babich said before the 2024 season. “He’s been in the system for a while. Obviously, I coached him when I was coaching the safeties and all those things. He knows the expectations… There was a lot that came with what happened to Damar, not just the event, but what came after, and he handled it absolutely as well as anybody can handle it. He’s very conscious of his environment, his surroundings, so he knows what’s on the table. My belief is that his mind is in the right place.“
Hamlin will enter this upcoming offseason as an unrestricted free agent. While he has given Brandon Beane every reason in the world to retain his services, the Bills are currently above $10 million over the cap and may have to let some players walk in free agency. However, he might not be very expensive to retain; per Spotrac, he is projected to garner a two-year, $6 million contract on the open market. A contract for Hamlin, especially how he’s risen from being on a ventilator to being a full-time starter and a heart-and-soul player for the defense, would very much be warranted.
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