Damar Hamlin Thinks There Will Be ‘Nothing But Love’ in Return to Cincinnati After Cardiac Arrest

The Bills safety suffered a cardiac arrest at the Bengals’ Paycor Stadium back in January.
Damar Hamlin Thinks There Will Be ‘Nothing But Love’ in Return to Cincinnati After Cardiac Arrest
Damar Hamlin Thinks There Will Be ‘Nothing But Love’ in Return to Cincinnati After Cardiac Arrest /

Bills safety Damar Hamlin will return to Cincinnati for a game against the Bengals on Sunday, just 10 months after he suffered a cardiac arrest at Paycor Stadium in January.

Despite what happened the last time he was on the field, Hamlin is entering Sunday’s game with a positive mindset thanks to all the support he received from Bengals fans this year.

“I think it’s going to be super electric, and I think it’s going to be nothing but love,” Hamlin told teammate Von Miller on The Voncast. “Only thing I got to compare it to is just going back into our stadium and how much love and reception. Going back into there, I’m pretty sure it’ll be like a bunch of memories, which will make it emotional for me. But, I ain’t running from it, I’m ready to walk through the fire.”

Hamlin admitted he thinks the “electric” environment will mimic what it was like for him to watch from the hospital bed on television as fans of various teams supported him the week after his cardiac arrest.

The Bills safety even befriended some Bengals players after the on-field medical emergency, including receivers Tyler BoydTee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase.

Hamlin has made a return to the football field already this season, performing on special teams. He was a full participant in practice on Thursday after missing practice on Wednesday due to illness.

It is unclear if Hamlin, who has appeared in just three games this season, will play against the Bengals, but head coach Sean McDermott said it will be a "football decision," rather than an emotional one.


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Madison Williams
MADISON WILLIAMS

Madison Williams is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated, where she specializes in tennis but covers a wide range of sports from a national perspective. Before joining SI in 2022, Williams worked at The Sporting News. Having graduated from Augustana College, she completed a master’s in sports media at Northwestern University. She is a dog mom and an avid reader.