The 40-millisecond window that nearly ended a professional football career
In short: On January 2, 2023, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed during a Monday Night Football game. The cause was commotio cordis, an extremely rare condition where a blow to the chest disrupts the heart's electrical cycle during a specific, tiny window of time.
The incident occurred during a Week 17 game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Following a tackle, Hamlin fell onto the pitch at 8:56 p.m. EST. While the contact appeared routine, it triggered commotio cordis, a condition that is 97% fatal if not treated within three minutes. In Hamlin's case, first responders initiated CPR and used an automated external defibrillator (AED) on the field for 10 minutes, successfully restoring his heartbeat.
Hamlin's recovery was marked by significant medical milestones. After being intubated and kept in critical condition, he was able to breathe on his own and have his breathing tube removed by January 6, 2023. He was discharged from the University of Cincinnati Medical Center nine days after his collapse, on January 9, 2023, and eventually returned to Buffalo for further rehabilitation.
His return to professional football was completed by April 18, 2023, when Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane announced Hamlin was fully cleared to play. Since then, Hamlin has become an advocate for heart health, meeting with President Joe Biden to support the Access to AEDs Act, which aims to help schools obtain and use automated external defibrillators.
Beyond the field, Hamlin's resilience earned him the George Halas Award in May 2023, recognizing players who overcome significant adversity. He has since continued his career with the Bills, re-signing on a one-year, $2 million contract in March 2025 and again in March 2026.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Damar Hamlin
- Also: Wikidata — Damar Hamlin · CC0
- Also: Wikidata — Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills Is in Critical Condition After Collapsing on the Field · CC0
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