Inside The Panthers

Pitt's Damar Hamlin Wants to Join Steelers

A former Pitt Panthers star could be coming back to Pittsburgh to play for the Steelers.

Stephen Thompson

Pitt's Damar Hamlin Wants to Join Steelers
Pitt's Damar Hamlin Wants to Join Steelers /
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PITTSBURGH -- Former Pitt Panthers safety Damar Hamlin has carved out a fine early NFL career for himself with the Buffalo Bills but as he enters the final year of his rookie contract, Hamlin is thinking about what his next move might be. 

Hamlin, who was back in Pittsburgh over the weekend to see Pitt beat Virginia Tech at the Petersen Events Center, said that he was open to a return to Pittsburgh and the chance to play in a familiar stadium again. 

“I think ending my career, finishing as a Pittsburgh Steeler would be a dream,” Hamlin said over the weekend. “I played at Pitt, so you know I was in the stadium. I played at Heinz Field probably for like eight years straight between WPIAL championships and Pitt so a dream come true would be finishing my career as a Steeler.”

Hamlin could fill a reserve safety role the Steelers could have open this offseason and next summer as well. He's played 34 total games in Buffalo with 13 starts, all of which came during the 2022 season, and he's recorded 95 total tackles, three for a loss and defended four passes. 

With his latest visit to Pittsburgh Hamlin honored a group of healthcare workers. Along with staff from Pitt and the fans in the stands, he took a moment to applaud UPMC workers that teach CPR and other potentially life-saving medical practices - the same ones that saved Hamlin's life - at center court.

Later, Hamlin brought Pitt women's soccer player Ellie Beech, who saved her own father's life after he went into cardiac arrest, to be honored at center court as well.

Hamlin narrowly missed out on winning NFL Comeback Player of the Year after returning to professional football after he went into cardiac arrest on the field of Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio in the middle of a game between his Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals. 

Hamlin has since made a full recovery, thanks in large part to the quick, effective work of medical personnel on the field, and is continuing to live his dream of playing in the NFL while also lending his time and money to a number of charitable causes. 

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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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