Although on Wednesday at the 2023 ESPY Awards, things came full circle.
Bills safety Damar Hamlin, who nearly died on the field after cardiac arrest during Bills vs. Bengals on “Monday Night Football” last season, took the stage to present an award to the medical team that played such an important role in saving his life.
As well presented the Pat Tillman Service Award when Hamlin took the stage; he looked emotional onstage after attending the award ceremony following a video narrated by Hamlin.
Moreover, the crowd received a standing ovation as Hamlin presented the award to the Bills’ coaching staff.
What did Damar Hamlin say?
Furthermore, Hamlin stayed on the podium and shared hugs with the Bills staff, adding to the emotional moment. Hamlin opened up about what the team meant to him while walking the red carpet at ESPYS.
Presenting the award, Hamlin said, “To me, it means everything.” “They are the reason I stand before you today. I’m just doing my job, and the Pat Tillman Award is an act of direct service. And they wake up every day not wanting to get credit for what they do; they show up and do their job the right way. And in my situation, that’s what happened.”
What to know?
Therefore, Hamlin has attended practices with the Bills this offseason as he continues his recovery and has reportedly been cleared to play in 2023. Wednesday was the culmination of an all-time comeback story, and being able to honor the team that helped save his life was clearly a powerful moment for him, respectively.