Damar Hamlin Describes ‘Long Journey’ to Making Buffalo Bills Roster

Damar Hamlin is on the verge of one of the greatest comeback stories in recent NFL history.

On Wednesday, September 4, Hamlin, 26, was named the starting safety for the Buffalo Bills, who open the regular season this weekend against the Arizona Cardinals.

The Bills Head Coach Announcement Sean McDermott comes less than two years after Hamlin collapsed on the field during a Monday night football match in January 2023, during which he suffered a cardiac arrest after a tackle.

In an exclusive interview with We weeklyHamlin candidly admitted it was a huge challenge to climb.

“It’s been such a long journey and a long process,” said Hamlin, who spoke to Us through his partnership with Invisalign. “I think it’s hard to describe what it took to get myself back to this point.”

Hamlin continued: “I had to take it one day at a time. I’ll never lose sight of that. That’s my approach to the rest of this journey of life that I’m on.”

The game, which begins at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 8 at Highmark Stadium in Buffalo, will mark Hamlin’s first start since his on-field incident last year, which left him hospitalized for nine days after his heartbeat was restored on the field.

Hamlin played five games as a reserve last season after returning to the team.

As for his expectations for this season, Hamlin said the only one he has is to “just keep growing every day.”

Hamlin is a fan of the phrase “trust the process,” which he uses not only for himself, but for a Bills team desperately seeking its first Super Bowl appearance in more than 30 years.

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“I think keeping the focus internally and keeping the focus on the process is the biggest thing,” Hamlin said of the team’s mindset. “Your process will take you as far as you trust it. I’m just deeply entrenched in my process, day in and day out. I’m committed to it.”

When Hamlin makes his entrance on Sunday – which will undoubtedly elicit a huge emotional roar from the Bills Mafia – he’ll be sporting a beaming smile that’s perfectly suited to the moment, thanks to his partnership with Invisalign.

“I understand how the confidence that you get from Invisalign aligners goes hand in hand with the need to perform on and off the field,” Hamlin explained. “It’s not just performance-based, but just the confidence that you walk into any room and just be yourself.”