Inside The Panthers

Damar Hamlin Awards ESPY to Bills Training Staff

An emotional Damar Hamlin honored the men and women who saved his life.

Stephen Thompson

Damar Hamlin Awards ESPY to Bills Training Staff
Damar Hamlin Awards ESPY to Bills Training Staff /
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PITTSBURGH -- It was a special and emotional night for former Pitt Panthers safety Damar Hamlin at the ESPY Awards in Los Angeles, California. 

Just six months removed from his shocking on-field cardiac arrest during the Bills-Bengals Monday Night Football game, Hamlin was able to honor the men and women who saved his life on the field, performing CPR to revive his heart and keep him breathing in the minutes after the incident. Hamlin was the one to announce that they had won the Pat Tillman Award for Service and deliver the trophy. 

The first wave of emotions hit Hamlin as he narrated a tribute video and received a standing ovation from the crowd in attendance. He broke down again as the Bills training staff met him on stage and embraced him. 

Bills head athletic trainer Nate Breske gave a speech accepting the award and gave a shoutout to Hamlin. 

"Thanks for staying alive, brother," he said.

Hamlin has done better than just survive the shocking injury, he has thrived, making a full recovery and returning to the football field as a full participant during OTAs in May and June. He is expected to practice fully when training camp rolls around at the end of the month. 

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:

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