Pittsburgh (KDKA) – Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin stated it would be a “dream” to complete his career with his hometown team.
Hamlin, a McKees Rocks native who attended Central Catholic High School and the University of Pittsburgh, made the comment while attending a Steel City Collectibles event in White Oak.
“I believe that concluding my career as a Pittsburgh Steeler would be a dream. I played at Pitt, so I was in the stadium. I played at Heinz Field for maybe eight years straight, between WPIAL titles and Pitt, so concluding my career as a Steeler would be a dream come true.”
After the 2020 season at Pitt, Hamlin was named to the All-ACC Second Team. The Buffalo Bills selected him in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL draft.
“Every day I would finish practice at Pitt, I would work out, shower, go get my food, and then sit up top and watch the Steelers practice, every day from freshman until graduating as a redshirt senior,” he told me
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Hamlin’s life was drastically altered when he went into cardiac arrest and needed to be revived on the field during a “Monday Night Football” game in Cincinnati. His comeback inspired many, and he returned to the field in less than a year. He has used his extremely public near-death experience to promote awareness about CPR and the use of AEDs.
At the ceremony, Hamlin also stated that he has been inspired by Cam Heyward’s community service and believes the Steelers defensive tackle is “well deserving” of the Walter Payton Man of the Year award.