Inside The Panthers

Damar Hamlin Makes Official Return to NFL Field

Former Pitt Panthers' standout Damar Hamlin completed his comeback.

Stephen Thompson

Damar Hamlin Makes Official Return to NFL Field
Damar Hamlin Makes Official Return to NFL Field /
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PITTSBURGH -- For just the second time this season, former Pitt Panthers safety Damar Hamlin was on the Buffalo Bills' active roster. And against the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football, Hamlin got back on the field for the first time in a regular season game since going into cardiac arrest in January. 

Hamlin, who starred for Pitt from 2016 to 2020, made a tackle while in on the final drive of the game, which ended in a heartbreaking loss for the Bills on a last-second field goal. But more importantly, he was able to get back on the field playing the sport he loves and contributing for Buffalo. 

Hamlin's made a slow but steady comeback over the course of this year. He first had to recover from the actual cardiac arrest, then get cleared to even begin practicing again before he could compete for a spot on the Bills' roster. He earned that spot over the summer and has now completed his comeback, making a return to the field to play defensive snaps in an NFL game. 

He's proven he could play at this high level of football prior to his injury last year, racking up 91 tackles, six for a loss, 1.5 sacks, two passes defended and a forced fumble in 13 starts. 

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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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