Good Morning America: Bills’ Damar Hamlin talks about new heart health mission with NFL


Sep 23, 2024

An ABC News exclusive with Damar Hamlin. The Buffalo Bills safety returned to the starting lineup this season for the first time since his life threatening cardiac arrest on the field in early 2023. And now he is sharing his plan to make sure young athletes get the emergency care they need. Will Reeve, you spoke to him, great way that he’s paying this all forward.

They say there’s the day you’re born and the day you find out why and Damar Hamlin thought his purpose was to play football, and in many ways it still is, thanks in large part to the people and equipment who saved his life and now spreading awareness of and access to that lifesaving equipment is his why and he hopes his legacy. It was the moment a national TV audience watched in horror as the Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed to the ground after this hit. Hamlin experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. Medics and trainers reviving him through CPR and an automated external defibrillator.

“I count my blessings, daily. You know, still being able to be here like this, still being able to live like every day after experiencing everything I experienced.”

And this morning, Hamlin and the NFL’s Smart Heart sports coalition exclusively announcing to GMA the launch of a new program to help get more automated external defibrillators known as AEDs into schools and onto playing fields.

“I am super excited to announce the new AED for youth program is pretty much open to all schools K through 12 grades through the end of 2025 in all 50 states.”

Listen to the full story here.