Inside The Panthers

Pitt’s Damar Hamlin Earns Starting Job With Bills

Former Pitt Panthers defensive back Damar Hamlin earns starting job with Buffalo Bills.

Dominic Campbell

Aug 17, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin (3) gestures on the sidelines against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Buffalo won 9-3. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Aug 17, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin (3) gestures on the sidelines against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Buffalo won 9-3. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images / Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

PITTSBURGH -- Former Pitt Panthers defensive back Damar Hamlin earned a starting job with the Buffalo Bills in their season opener at home vs. the Arizona Cardinals, according to head coach Sean McDermott.

Hamlin stepped up for the Bills in 2022, with safety Micah Hyde out for most of the season. He recorded 91 tackles (63 solo), six tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two pass breakups and a forced fumble in 15 games, starting every game in the secondary from Week 3 onward.

In a Week 17 Monday night game against the Cincinnati Bengals on the road, Hamlin collapsed to the field after suffering a cardiac arrest. He made a comeback from an almost near death experience on the field and came back last season, playing a much smaller role last season.

He only played in five regular season games, making two tackles and attempted an unsuccesful fake punt in a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Divisional Round at home.

Hamlin hails from McKees Rocks, Pa. and played for Pittsburgh Central Catholic, where he helped the team to two WPIAL Class 4A Titles in 2013 and 2015 and a PIAA Class 4A Title in 2015.

247Sports and Rivals both listed Hamlin as a four-star recruit in the Class of 2016, with 247Sports ranking him at No. 5 in Pennsylvania, No. 21 cornerback and No. 218 in the country, while Rivals had him at No. 4 in the commonwealth, No. 7 safety and No. 126 in the United States. 

He would only play in three games as a true freshman in 2016, but managed to play in nine games, starting four at safety in 2017, still missing three games with injury, while making 41 tackles, one TFL and an interception.

Hamlin led the team with 90 tackles, while adding three TFLs, four pass breakups and a fumble recovery, receiving Honorable Mention All-ACC recognition in 2018, playing in all 14 games and helping Pitt win the ACC Coastal Division and make the ACC Championship Game 

He finished second on the Panthers with 84 tackles and was third with 10 pass breakups in 2019, starting 12 games. 

Hamiln earned Second Team All-ACC honors in 2020 as a redshirt senior, as he made 66 tackles, 38 solo, 3.5 tackles for loss, seven passes defended and two interceptions.

He made 275 tackles, 185 solo, 10 tackles for loss, six interceptions, 21 pass breakups and a fumble recovery in his five seasons at Pitt from 2016-20.

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Dominic Campbell
DOMINIC CAMPBELL

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