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The 24-year-old had to have his heartbeat
restored on the field after making a tackle in the first quarter
of the game against the Cincinnati Bengals and left in an
ambulance, horrifying fans.
The incident sent shockwaves through the league and prompted
nearly 250,000 donations totaling more than $9 million as of
Wednesday to a GoFundMe page he initially established to fund a
community toy drive in December 2020.
"He is not only a person who reminds us just how dangerous this
game is - but also the spirit, the love, the joy, the fraternity
of people who play this game," said DeMaurice Smith, the
executive director of the National Football League Players
Association.
Hamlin credited his father, who was in attendance for the award
ceremony, with inspiring him to serve the community.
"First and foremost I just want to say thank you, just thank God
for being here," said Hamlin, who shared one of his favorite
quotes, "It's a blessing to be a blessing."
Hamlin overcame adversity to reach the NFL, losing three friends
to gun violence growing up in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania.
He elected to play college football near home at the University
of Pittsburgh, saying at the time that he wanted to be available
as a role model for his younger brother.
"I plan to never take this position for granted and always have
an urgent approach in making a difference in the community where
I come from and also communities across the world," Hamlin told
reporters.
His appearance was a welcome surprise at the annual
state-of-the-union media event for the NFL labor union, one
month to the day after the Bills announced he had been released
from a Buffalo hospital.
"We all wanted to see him," said Smith. "And for everything that
he means to me and us, I think we'd move heaven and earth to get
him here."
(Reporting by Amy Tennery; Editing by Toby Davis)
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