Damar Hamlin’s love for the Bills shone as brightly as his bedazzled “#3” chain, sweater and shoes. He pumped his fists in the air, celebrating the start of his fifth NFL season, and expressed gratitude to the fans who supported him through every hurdle.
Hamlin shared his story on the Center for the Arts’ main stage Thursday night as the final speaker in UB’s ‘24-25 Distinguished Speakers series. He reflected on his journey of rebuilding both his mental and physical health following his cardiac arrest in early 2023, as well as his commitment to community building and living by his motto, “Chasing M’s.”
“I started it when I was like 11 years old,” Hamlin said. “There’s a picture of me in the living room with all my trophies around me, like ‘We’re doing this thing one way or another’.”
Hamlin has certainly made his mark, both on and off the field. To him, Chasing M’s — short for chasing millions — means striving for greatness even when times get tough.
“Coming into Pitt highly recruited, I expected to play right away and I dealt with injury, I had three surgeries my freshman year,” Hamlin said. “I didn’t know if the NFL was going to be real.”
Hamlin didn’t let early setbacks hold him back when he made it to the NFL. He recorded career highs in sacks and tackles for loss in his second season. But later that same season, Hamlin suffered an on-field cardiac arrest, sidelining him indefinitely.
Hamlin could have stopped there, having achieved everything he had hoped for.
“I would have decided to take a year off, get as far away from football as I could. I would have went to a beach somewhere … until I was just a regular human again,” Hamlin said.
Yet he pressed on, despite the mental and physical toll, because for him, being a professional athlete meant persisting.
“I pushed myself through those tough moments and I knew pushing myself would ultimately allow me to be more free the next following season,” he said. “I knew what I was capable of doing and I got it done.”
Hamlin’s dedication extended beyond the gridiron to the community that embraced him as one of their own.
His motto evolved with him as he set out to reach millions through his foundation. The Chasing M’s Foundation began as a way to support children in his hometown of Pittsburgh but has since grown into a movement promoting CPR education— an effort that has helped save an estimated million lives.
Through his foundation, Hamlin hoped to foster leadership in his community by developing scholarships and creating opportunities for children. He recognizes that many young athletes aspire to an NFL career and wants to provide not just guidance but also resources — giving back to Pittsburgh in a meaningful way. Returning to his hometown is a source of great pride for him.
“It means everything to me,” Hamlin said. “[Steelers fans] can’t say nothing to me now.”
Hamlin has undeniably found comfort within Bills Mafia. While he hopes to one day attend a tailgate and jump through a table post-retirement, his first priority is winning a Super Bowl as a player.
“Stay patient with us,” Hamlin said. “We got it right where we need it, a couple big plays and we right there in the big dance.”
Sophia Stines is a senior features editor and can be found at sophia.stines@ubspectrum.com
Rodrigo Feijão is the senior sports editor and can be reached at rodrigo.feijao@ubspectrum.com
Sophia Stines is an assistant features editor.
Photo: Paul Hokanson / UB Athletics
