Damar Hamlin named finalist for NFL Comeback Player of the Year
BLEAV in Bills: Defensive injuries an early-week concern for Bills
Sal Maiorana and Adam Benigni begin to preview the AFC Championship Game between the Bills and Chiefs.
ORCHARD PARK – Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin has, in essence, been granted a mulligan. For the second straight season, he has been named a finalist for the Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year award.
Hamlin made worldwide news in January 2023 when he suffered a cardiac arrest on the field in Cincinnati and nearly died. He was saved by the Bills’ training staff, transported to a Cincinnati hospital and spent five days recovering before returning to Buffalo.
Damar Hamlin snubbed for award in 2023
He then resumed his career in the spring of 2023 and though he had a minimal role during the regular season, he should have been a slam dunk winner of the comeback award just for being able to return to the sport and make the Bills’ roster. Instead, the award was inexplicably given to Joe Flacco, who came out of retirement late in the season to lead the Cleveland Browns to the playoffs.
Even Flacco admitted he had no business winning the award because he came back from nothing, outside of inactivity on his couch, and that Hamlin was the right choice.
Well, maybe Hamlin will get recognized a year too late because he really didn’t comeback from anything this season. What he did, though, is win a starting job after being active for only five games in 2023, and as he heads into the AFC Championship Game Sunday, he has 101 tackles, two interceptions, one sack, a forced fumble, and a recovery in 16 games (all starts) counting the postseason.
According to BuffaloBills.com, three weeks ago Hamlin treated the Bills’ training staff to dinner and once again thanked them for saving his life. He also announced an expansion of his Chasing M’s Foundation youth scholarship program, which began in Cincinnati, to include a new Buffalo Heroes scholarship.
“Two years ago, my life was forever changed, and I stand here today because of the incredible training staff who acted quickly and saved me,” Hamlin said. “Their dedication, expertise, and compassion remind us of the importance of being prepared in the moments that matter most.”
Other NFL Comeback of the Year finalists
The other finalists for the award are Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold, Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins, and Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez.
Other Buffalo Bills named finalists for NFL awards
As expected, Bills quarterback Josh Allen is one of five finalists for the AP’s MVP award. Among the five finalist is Lamar Jackson.
Also, Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady was named one of five finalists for the NFL Assistant Coach of the Year award.
Sal Maiorana has covered the Buffalo Bills for four decades including 35 years as the full-time beat writer for the D&C, and he has written numerous books about the history of the team. He can be reached at maiorana@gannett.com, and you can follow him on X @salmaiorana and on Bluesky @salmaiorana.bsky.social. Sign up for his Bills Blast newsletter here: https://profile.democratandchronicle.com/newsletters/bills-blast
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