Damar Hamlin, a defensive back, may not want to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers after all.
A little more than five weeks after stating it would be a “dream” to complete his NFL career with his hometown Steelers, Hamlin said on The Ed Mylett Show that he is OK with his current situation.
“I aspire to be a Buffalo Bill for life. “That’s the team that took a chance on me,” Hamlin stated on April 2. “I addressed that question from a child’s perspective.
“I had a long-held desire of making it to the NFL and being able to provide for my family and giving back to my community, which I did not have as a child growing up. That has always been my motivating force.
“When I was a child, I used to play the [Madden video] game and imagine myself as a Steeler. As a kid, I always played the game this way. So when they asked me the question, I addressed it from a childhood viewpoint, as well as from the perspective of, “No, I don’t want to play for the Steelers right now because I’m a Buffalo Bill.
Hamlin is reacting to a reporter’s inquiry on February 24 about whether playing for the Steelers would be a dream come true.
“A dream come true would be to complete my career as a Steeler,” said Hamlin, who is from McKees Rocks, PA.
Damar Hamlin Causes Stir Expressing Desire to Play for Steelers
Growing up around five miles from Acrisure Stadium, it’s not surprise that Hamlin once dreamed of wearing black and gold. Hamlin addressed his career aspirations, however, when some fans misinterpreted his desire to play for the Steelers as a shot at the Buffalo Bills.
Hamlin not only grew up in close proximity to the Steelers’ home stadium, but he also played high school football playoff games at Heinz Field. During his college career with the Pitt Panthers, he returned to the Steelers’ home stadium.
In five seasons at Pitt, Hamlin had 275 combined tackles, 21 pass defenses, and 6 interceptions.
Despite having spent his entire NFL career with the Bills, Hamlin has remained active in the Pittsburgh region through charities and nonprofits.
Hamlin became an NFL household name after collapsing on the field during Week 17 of the 2022 season. Hamlin collapsed on the ground while attempting a tackle and stayed motionless for several minutes.
He had commotio cordis, an uncommon disorder in which the heart rhythm is disrupted by a hit to the chest. The National Library of Medicine estimated that the disease is 97% deadly if not addressed within three minutes.
Hamlin fully recovered and returned to play for the Bills in 2023.
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