The Buffalo Bills will play the NFL’s top game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday evening (local time). For Damar Hamlin, this game is not like any other. After all, the safety almost lost his life in the Bengals stadium almost ten months ago.
Most NFL fans don’t like to think back to January 2, 2023. At Paycor Stadium and in front of the screens, they witnessed Damar Hamlin go into cardiac arrest during a “Monday Night Football” game. The duel between the Bengals and the Bills then had to be canceled.
Hamlin subsequently made a remarkable recovery and even made the 53-man roster for the current season. The defender, who has only been back on the field once since his collapse, could therefore be used in Ohio. Beforehand, Hamlin admitted that this game was special for him.
“I don’t know what to expect. This is unique for me too. All I know is that I’m going in with courage. I’m going in with strength and I’m going in with my brothers,” the 25-year-old explained in an interview with the “New York Post” and recalled the support he has received since his cardiac arrest. “I step onto the lawn surrounded by people who have supported me from all sides over time.”
NFL pro “grateful for life” after near-death experience
Should he actually play against the Bengals, Hamlin should enjoy this opportunity to the fullest. Since his dramatic collapse, he has become more aware of every situation in his life.
“I’m grateful for life. To be honest, I’m grateful to wake up, brush my teeth, eat something. I’m grateful for everything,” the Bills’ former sixth-round pick concluded.
What gives him the greatest joy, however, is the fact that he can still play in the NFL. “I’m super grateful to have my normal life back. But I’m extremely grateful because I can continue to compete at the highest level and do what I love to do,” Hamlin reported.