Damar Hamlin became a regular starter for the Bills again in 2024, moving back to the lineup after his injury rehab largely took him off the field in 2023. Despite Hamlin’s rookie contract expiring, the inspirational figure is staying in Buffalo.
The Bills announced they re-signed Hamlin to a one-year deal Wednesday morning. This will keep an experienced player in the fold alongside Taylor Rapp and second-rounder Cole Bishop.
Only used on 17 defensive plays in 2023, Hamlin won a starting safety job last season — after the Bills disbanded their seven-year Micah Hyde–Jordan Poyer safety partnership. Hamlin started all 14 games he played in 2024 and logged a 98% snap share, which checked in beyond his usage rate from 2022. Hamlin, 27 later this month, notched his first two career interceptions last season.
Set to hold a place in NFL history thanks to his recovery from the chest injury that caused cardiac arrest in Cincinnati, Hamlin held an uncertain place with the Bills after his comeback. The former fifth-round pick entered the Bills’ 2024 training camp on the roster bubble, as the team had drafted Bishop highly and signed Mike Edwards. Hamlin, however, beat out both to start alongside Rapp. The Pitt alum made 89 tackles and broke up five passes last season.
Bishop figures to be a threat to Hamlin’s starting position this year, as the Bills chose the Utah product 60th overall. Bishop played on 34% of Buffalo’s defensive snaps last season, starting four games. Pro Football Focus also ranked Hamlin 85th among safety regulars in 2024. The Bills also have versatile backup Cam Lewis rostered entering free agency. Rapp is signed for one more season.
Regardless of Hamlin’s path back to a starting role, his journey back from the near-death scene — one that prompted the first canceled NFL game in decades and prompted the league to devise a contingency plan in case a three-loss Bills team advanced to the AFC championship game that year — will make him a revered figure in Buffalo. If nothing else, Hamlin, who had started 13 games in place of Hyde in 2022, brings plenty of experience as a potential depth player — in the event Bishop takes a step into the starting lineup.
People who woulda had a heart attack otherwise…
Wow, what an original and tasteful joke!
Oh relax
I’m glad he’s healthy, but I lost fantasy football SB because they canceled the game. Josh was my starting QB! On a serious side, that was scary to watch unfold.
I feel ya! I had Josh, one of his receivers and Mixon in that game, my opponent had nobody, and I was down only 15 points!!!
He’s a local guy from here in Pittsburgh that has never forgotten his community and is here quite often to stage events for the needy. Just a good guy and one who’s easy to root for
He’s a talented player in his own right. Glad to see he got his chance to start last year.
I remember seeing him make some plays before that awful collision.
He’s absolutely atrocious in coverage, always looks out of place, doesn’t pick up WR’s that are burning the CB’s, can’t tackle. Hopefully this is just a depth move
Do the Bill get the rights to his clone, too, or can another team sign him?
He’s practically guaranteed to have a sports commentator job after his playing days are over, so I have no problem with him trying to extend it a bit.