Damar Hamlin

NFL player, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Damar Hamlin inspires audiences with his vision for making an impact through his life and work. Hamlin has always prioritized his family and community.

During his time at the University of Pittsburgh, he was named first-team All-State and the Class AAAA Defensive Player of the Year. Hamlin plays as the starting safety for the Buffalo Bills, where he quickly became a key leader. Beyond sports, he launched the popular "Chasing M's" clothing brand while still in school. In addition to his entrepreneurial ventures, he founded "The Chasing M’s Foundation," which supports toy drives, back-to-school drives, kids’ camps, and more. The foundation also hosts a charity weekend featuring a youth football camp, charity softball game, and an All-Star game.

On January 2nd, 2023, during a "Monday Night Football" game, Hamlin experienced a severe medical emergency when he collapsed on the field from cardiac arrest after completing a tackle. Prompt medical attention helped restore his heartbeat on the spot, and he was immediately taken to emergency care. While recovering, Hamlin communicated by writing on a clipboard due to his breathing tube, famously asking, “did we win?” to which his trauma surgeon responded affirmatively. He has since made a significant recovery and publicly shared his gratitude for the overwhelming support he received. His foundation's GoFundMe campaign for an annual toy drive has raised over $9M, largely supported by the NFL community.

Hamlin's remarkable recovery and community involvement have earned him several accolades, including the Variety Sports and Entertainment Social Impact Award, the 2023 Alan Page Community Award, the 2023 George Halas Award. He also presented the Pat Tillman Award at the ESPY Awards to the Bills training staff and was recognized by the city of Pittsburgh with "Damar Hamlin Day" on July 9th. Moreover, he was named a GQ Man of the Year for his inspirational comeback and philanthropy, particularly advocating for AED defibrillators accessibility and Hands-only CPR training. A gifted speaker, Hamlin emphasizes entrepreneurship, leadership, and making a lasting community impact, drawing from his personal experiences and recovery to motivate others.