Damar Hamlin 'Mom & Dad' React to Bills Comeback Decision

"My family, my mom and my dad, they were behind me either way I wanted to go, playing or not.'' - Bills safety Damar Hamlin.

Damar Hamlin is now more than a football player. At the same time, he's still "Mom and Dad's'' son. So as he took another step in his recovery process on Monday, he reflected on being just a little bit scared to do so ... and on the support he's gotten from his family.

During training camp on Monday, the Buffalo Bills safety practiced in full pads, and Hamlin was in the mix - marking the first time he's been in pads since going into cardiac arrest on the field against the Cincinnati Bengals in January.

"Damar’s got one hurdle left,” GM Brandon Beane told Peter King of NBC Sports during training camp on Sunday.

Added Bills cornerback Dane Johnson: “Putting the pads on is pretty much the last step for him … Once he gets comfortable doing that, then he’s back and he’s ready.”

Hamlin explained how his family feels about his decision to keep playing.

Damar Hamlin back in pads for the first time since January here at #Bills camp. pic.twitter.com/UPbWbeWBZO

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 31, 2023

"I made a decision,'' he said. "My family, my mom and my dad, they were behind me either way I wanted to go, playing or not.But if this is the decision we're gonna make, we're gonna go with it and keep going. So I made my decision. I'm living with it."

Hamlin admitted that there are times when he has some trepidation about returning to play, but he's committed to continuing his career. ... and he has the support not only of Mom and Dad but of all Bills Mafia.

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