Damar Hamlin Named As Starter For Arizona Game

The starters for the Buffalo Bills upcoming season opener has been announced on social media, and Bills fans were ecstatic to see who was slated to start in the role of safety. 

It is none other than #3 Damar Hamlin. 

Coach McDermott shared the news that Hamlin would be the starting safety for the season opener against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, Sept. 8 @ 1 PM. Making the announcement, Coach McDermott asked the rhetorical question, "What else can't this young man do?"

I mean, Damar Hamlin may be the greatest comeback story that the NFL has ever seen. 

Back in January 2023, Hamlin was involved in “The Play Heard ‘Round The World” when the Bills faced the Cincinnati Bengals. During the first quarter of the game, Hamlin was struck in the chest while making a tackle, and he went into cardiac arrest on the field. 

It was a scary scene, and it literally brought the entire world together to support Damar Hamlin and the Bills. 

A GoFundMe that Hamlin started back in 2020 started gaining nationwide attention with donations pouring in after the January 2023 incident. Hamlin started the GoFundMe while he was in college to support a local toy drive in the area, and it ended up bringing in over $9 million in donations! Hamlin also helped to raise awareness and prioritize the importance of getting your CPR certification.  

This weekend’s game will not be the first official start for Hamlin, but it will arguably be the most memorable. After all, less than two years ago, Hamlin was unsure if he would ever play football again. 

He talked about that uncertainty during a press conference on Wednesday.

“I reflect back on the whole process and not knowing if I would be able to play again,” Hamlin said. “The uncertainty ate at me.”

“It all goes to the power of being process-oriented. That allows you to conquer anything,” Hamlin said. 

If you want tickets to the Buffalo Bills season opener, you can get yours here.