Damar Hamlin surprises Bills training staff with scholarship program on two-year anniversary of cardiac arrest

Thursday marked the two year anniversary of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffering a cardiac arrest in the Week 17 game against the Cincinnati Bengals during the 2022 season.

Hamlin, who made a successful recovery and returned to the field in 2023, spent the night hosting Buffalo’s athletic training staff for a dinner, per Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN. There, he surprised them with the announcement that his Chasing M’s Foundation is starting a new Buffalo Heroes Scholarship Program in their honor.

Today marked the two-year anniversary of Damar Hamlin's cardiac arrest. He spent the night hosting the team's athletic training staff for a dinner and then surprised them with the announcement of a new Buffalo Heroes Scholarship program in their honor: https://t.co/7Ly5Bpr33Q pic.twitter.com/PiIQLwUrdh

— Alaina Getzenberg (@agetzenberg) January 3, 2025

The Buffalo Heroes Scholarship will support underserved high school and college-bound students who hope to attend Buffalo-area private high schools, trade schools or universities, Getzenberg wrote.

“Two years ago, my life was forever changed, and I stand here today because of the incredible training staff who acted quickly and saved me,” Hamlin said, via the team’s official website. “Their dedication, expertise, and compassion remind us of the importance of being prepared in the moments that matter most. Tonight, I honor them – not just for saving my life, but for inspiring me to continue giving back and spreading the message of preparedness and hope.”

Details on Damar Hamlin’s new scholarship program

Funding includes a total of $1,000 per student for 10 scholarships annually over a three-year period. Information for applying will be available at chasingmsfoundation.com beginning Feb. 1. Hamlin’s Chasing M’s Foundation started a similar scholarship last year in Cincinnati on the one-year anniversary of his cardiac arrest. Hamlin received a gift from the athletic training staff, his version of the Pat Tillman Service Award ESPY awarded to the group in 2023. 

“I created this scholarship program for kids in underserved communities who need some support as they plan to go to a private high school, trade school or on to college,” Hamlin said. “When I look back, the financial support I got that allowed me to go to Central Catholic High School in my hometown of Pittsburgh had a big impact on the course of my life.”

Hamlin, 26, played in five games last season, finishing second to Joe Flacco in AP Comeback Player of the Year voting. He has appeared and started 13 games in 2024, recording 83 tackles (58 solo), two tackles for loss, two interceptions and five passes defended.

Hamlin has missed the last three games with a rib injury. The Bills, who secured the No. 2 seed in the AFC, are hopeful to have Hamlin back in the lineup for Sunday’s regular-season finale against the New England Patriots.