NFL star who went into cardiac arrest says near-death moment was ‘not even top three’ in his life

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin nearly died on national television in January 2023. Three years later, he made a statement that hits harder than the collapse itself.

In an as-told-to essay with Business Insider’s Kelly Burch, Hamlin said going into cardiac arrest during an NFL game was not the toughest thing he has survived. He put gun violence, his father’s incarceration, and early career injuries ahead of the moment that stopped football in real time.

Damar Hamlin says cardiac arrest was ‘not even top three’ among his hardest battles

Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest during a Monday night game against the Cincinnati Bengals in January 2023. Doctors later determined he experienced commotio cordis, a rare form of cardiac arrest caused by a blow to the chest.

Hamlin was 24 when his heart stopped after what looked like a routine tackle. Medical personnel restored his heartbeat on the field, and he spent two days in a medically induced coma before starting a long recovery.

Still, Hamlin told Business Insider that the moment did not top his list of personal adversity.

“Going into cardiac arrest on national TV wasn't the biggest adversity I've encountered- not even top three. Losing friends to gun violence, that's the toughest thing I've faced. Losing my dad to the criminal justice system, to incarceration. Being a young man who had every example of what not to do, and being unsure about my moves going forward.”

That answer says a lot about Hamlin. The public saw the scariest part of his life. He had already lived through pain most people never saw.

Hamlin also pointed to his freshman year of college, when he had three surgeries after arriving as a major recruit. He said injuries stripped away everything he had built at that time.

“At the time, I was the hottest recruit to come in a long time, and I had everything stripped from me by injuries. That was very tough to navigate.”

Hamlin said those earlier battles shaped how he handled the cardiac arrest. By the time the world watched him collapse, he had already learned how fast life can turn.

“All of those things prepared me to face adversity on the big stage. I was only 24 when my heart stopped after a tackle. But when it happened, I was super blessed to have great people around me. The situation that happened there on the field was the least stressful it could have been. All I had to worry about was getting healthy again.”

That is not a soft quote. It is a brutal perspective from a player who had to rebuild in public.

Hamlin’s health shift now centers on longevity, family, and legacy

Hamlin returned to the NFL in October 2023. Since then, he said the cardiac arrest changed the way he approaches his body and his career.

He told Business Insider he has become a better athlete because he pays closer attention to health. That includes blood testing to identify foods that trigger inflammation.

“In the three years since the cardiac arrest, I have become a better athlete. I've raised my level of awareness by a notch. One example: now I do blood tests to learn which foods trigger an inflammatory response. With that info, I can feed my body the best way possible.”

Hamlin’s mindset now stretches beyond football. He said he thinks about longevity and legacy, not just weekly performance.

“I'm focused on using this trial, this tribulation, to keep making a better version of myself. I always knew that my health and wellness impacted how I show up in the world, as a football player, as a businessman, and as a philanthropist.”

Hamlin also credited his mother for shaping his approach. He said she worked long hours while his father was incarcerated and never complained.

“My mom was so loyal to my dad for years when he was incarcerated. She worked from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. at a day care, then worked cleaning from 7 p.m. till midnight. I never heard her complain- she just kept putting her best foot forward, and made sure I had everything I needed.”

That sacrifice now sits inside Hamlin’s comeback story. He said he recently built his parents their dream home. “A lot has changed, but I know that if I can keep the same approach to life my mom has always had, I'll be light-years ahead.”