Damar Hamlin was a starter for the Buffalo Bills in Week 1 for the first time since his cardiac arrest. Afterwards, the safety talked about his emotions

Damar Hamlin is back. In Week 1 of the new NFL season, the Buffalo Bills safety was back as a starter for the first time since his cardiac arrest a good 20 months ago.

What is important to the 26-year-old is that he doesn’t just want to be known as the player who survived. He emphasized this to “NFL.com”. “My story is my story. It’s still being written. But I also want to be known for my skills. I’ve always had big goals on and off the field. I have so much more I want to accomplish,” he said.

He’s basically back to 100 percent, has hardly any problems, can go full throttle. Even though 2023 was a tough year, it was a real challenge on his way back.

He made five appearances in the NFL back then, but he would have preferred a complete break. “If the world was perfect and I had a choice, I would have taken a year off to get my mind off things and get a fresh start,” Hamlin said. “You touch the stove, realize it’s hot, and never touch it again. Imagine losing your life and doing the same thing again. “

He had no one who had been through this before and could help him with this journey, he said: “I had support, but I had to do this on my own. I did the hard stuff last year.”

Now he wants to win the Super Bowl with the Buffalo Bills. And enjoy football.

“People go on with their lives and think about it when they see me,” he said. “It’s a part of me. Sometimes I still have flashbacks. And in everyday life, I definitely think about it. I’ve learned to cherish those moments in my life. But now when I play a game, those three hours, all I think about is football. “