As the NFL season comes to a close, the race for the Comeback Player of the Year Award is heating up. One player who has emerged as a leading contender for the award is Damar Hamlin, a safety for the Buffalo Bills.
Hamlin, a former standout at the University of Pittsburgh, was selected by the Bills in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He spent most of his rookie season on the practice squad but was promoted to the active roster in December 2021.
In his second year with the Bills, Hamlin has made a significant impact on the team’s defense. He has played in all 16 games, starting four of them, and has recorded 42 tackles, one interception, and two passes defended.
But it’s not just his stats that make Hamlin a strong candidate for the Comeback Player of the Year Award. It’s his journey to get to this point.
During his senior year at Pitt, Hamlin suffered a devastating injury that threatened to end his football career. He tore his ACL and MCL in his left knee and had to undergo surgery to repair the damage.
The injury forced Hamlin to miss the entire 2020 season and left him with a long road to recovery. But he didn’t let it deter him from his goal of playing in the NFL.
Hamlin worked tirelessly to rehab his knee and get back on the field. He spent countless hours in the weight room and in physical therapy, pushing himself to get stronger and faster.
His hard work paid off when he was drafted by the Bills in 2021. And now, just a year later, he’s emerged as one of the team’s top defenders and a leading contender for the Comeback Player of the Year Award.
Hamlin’s story is a testament to his resilience and determination. He refused to let his injury define him or hold him back. Instead, he used it as motivation to come back stronger than ever.
If he does win the Comeback Player of the Year Award, it will be a well-deserved honor for a player who has overcome so much to get to this point. And it will serve as an inspiration to anyone who has faced adversity and refused to give up on their dreams.
