By Wonderwall.com Editors
4:00am PST, Jan 5, 2024
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What a difference a year makes. On Jan. 2, 2024 — one year after he suffered a cardiac arrest on the field — Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin debuted a new tattoo honoring his incredible recovery and new life mission.
Created by Miami-based tattoo artist Alexander Brenes, the simple black ink image that's now emblazoned across the back of Damar's neck shows a pair of hands coming together in a heart shape. Inside the "heart hands" is a heart monitor line. "1 year later still locked inn," Alexander captioned photos of Damar getting the new ink at Til the End Tattoos on Instagram on Jan. 2.
Damar, 25, collapsed in cardiac arrest just seconds after a tackle during a Monday Night Football game against the Cincinnati Bengals last January. Emergency medical personnel restored his heartbeat on the field and Damar was rushed to the University of Cincinnati Hospital, where he remained in critical condition for days.
He eventually recovered, returning to play with his team in October 2023. But the experience did more than send him back to the field.
It also also helped shape what he now calls his "unexpected life mission" of supporting young people through his Chasing M's Foundation, which launched a series of new programs inspired by what he went through, including a CPR tour and scholarships named after the first responders who saved his life.
Keep reading for a closer look at Damar's new tattoo, then click through for more details on what he's up to one year after his health crisis …
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After getting his new tattoo on the first anniversary of his cardiac arrest, Damar Hamlin hopped on Instagram to share some reflections on the past year. One post included a screenshot from Google's "Year in Search" list showing Damar was the most-searched person in the United States in 2023.
"It took me all of 2023 to find myself again," he captioned the post. "It's a tough year to explain man…you just had to be there!
Another featured video and photos of Damar, including an image of the star standing before a wall mural of himself — in his No. 3 Bills uniform, flashing the "heart hands."
"God's Child ✝️🫶🏾.. 1 year later 🧎🏾♂️🪽," he wrote alongside the gallery.
Video clips in the carousel included footage from the movie "Get Rich or Die Tryin'," including a scene where the star, rapper 50 Cent, is coming to terms with the fact that his voice sounds different because of what he's been through: "It's better," a producer tells him. "It's got more pain in it."
Fans flooded the comments section with supportive messages in response.
"You're a national treasure, #3!!!! You brought this nation together when it desperately needed unity and purpose and focused love," one person wrote.
Others praised the athlete for his dedication to helping others in the wake of his near-death experience …
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"The awareness and equipment you have brought to all levels of football will save lives," another fan wrote in the comments. "And the hundreds of people you've inspired to learn effective CPR and how to utilize an AED will save so many more."
The user was referring to the CPR Tour Damar launched in 2023 in partnership with the American Heart Association. The new Chasing M's program provided thousands of people with free, "hands-only" CPR training. It also donated "no-cost AEDs" — automated external defibrillators used to help people experiencing sudden cardiac arrest — to youth sports organizations in each community the tour visited.
"Because of what I experienced, I'm working to make sure kids across the country have the same access to life-saving care that I did, if they need it," Damar Hamlin said in a press release.
Over New Year's, he also updated supporters of his foundation on a GoFundMe page for a toy drive.
"One of the things that has inspired me most is the real-life stories of people who were inspired to be CPR trained because of my experience, then turned around and saved the life of another this year," he wrote, in part.
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The CPR Tour was one of multiple programs the NFL star launched in 2023 as a result of his health scare.
He also created 10 scholarships to support underserved high school students in Cincinnati attend local universities, trade schools and private high schools. He named each scholarship after a member of the medical team that cared for him in January 2023.
"Last night I had dinner with my heroes. 10 of the UC Medical Staff that helped save my life," Damar Hamlin wrote on X on Nov. 5, 2023. "I surprised them with a scholarship named after each of them that will support youth in Cincy to chase their dreams. Wouldn't be here if it wasn't for them!🫶🏾."
Those same medical professionals also joined Damar onstage when he made a surprise appearance at the NFL Honors in February 2023.
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Joined by the Bills' and the Bengals' athletic training and medical staffs, Damar used his NFL Honors appearance to give an emotional thank-you speech and share a group hug with the crew he dubbed "Team Damar."
"Every day I'm amazed that my experiences could encourage so many others across the country and even across the world — encourage to pray, encourage to spread love and encourage to keep fighting no matter the circumstances," he said.
He went on to thank an ICU doctor named Yusef who opened up to him about having experienced a similar medical crisis and survived.
"He showed me he was OK and that meant so much to me," he recalled. "There was so much uncertainty at the time and just him coming to me, showing I could live a normal life again, it meant so much to me and my mom. I want to give a big thank you to him."
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Finally, Damar Hamlin explained how his cardiac arrest and recovery have changed him.
"Sudden cardiac arrest is something I never would have chosen to be a part of my story, but that's because our own visions are too small even when we think we see the whole picture," he told the audience.
"My vision was about playing in the NFL and being the best player I could be, but God's plan was to have a purpose greater than any game in this world."
Before they left the stage, Damar and the medical staffers were treated to a standing ovation.
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In addition to his charity work, Damar returned to the NFL in 2023, playing his first regular season game in October against the Miami Dolphins.
"I think it was more so about promising to myself than anything else, just showing myself that I have the courage, I have the strength, that I have the pride, everything, all those words, in me to be able to go through something traumatic and to be able to come back from it," he said after the game, according to the Associated Press.
"To be able to still do what I love at the highest level in the world is amazing."
As of January 2024, Damar Hamlin is a strong contender for the NFL's 2023 Comeback Player of the Year honor, according to CBS Sports.
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Damar Hamlin shared one more look back at his memories of 2023 on Jan. 3 when he posted a reel of highlights featuring clips from his time back on the field interspersed with footage from the ESPY Awards, the NFL Honors, his foundation's events and more.
"blood, sweat, tears & scars.. never hid a flaw & been pure since day 1! One year of progression🏁," he captioned the post.
"Still thankful for every ounce of love & prayer. you'll probably hear me say that until the end of my time! I pray this new year got new heights for us all! 🧗🏿♂️🙏🏽3️⃣💕."
