Damar

Hamlin

NFL player, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Damar Hamlin inspires audiences with his vision for making an impact through his life and work. Hamlin has always put his family and his community first. As he told the Point Park Globe, "I want to give my city bragging rights, bring my city something, and just give the city another reason to smile."  Hamlin plays starting safety for the Buffalo Bills, standing out as a leader on the team early in his NFL career. While still in school, Hamlin launched his popular Chasing M's clothing brand – which “tells the story of your come up through clothing and puts a community of like-minded people behind you to help achieve the life you want.” While expanding his portfolio as a fashion entrepreneur, he created The Chasing M’s Foundation – a vehicle to bring lasting impact to his community, supporting toy drives, back-to-school drives, kids’ camps, and more. During a Monday Night Football game on January 2nd, 2023, Hamlin completed what looked like a routine tackle, only to collapse on the field moments after. He had suffered a cardiac arrest – and received swift medical attention as teammates and fans looked on in shock. His heartbeat was restored on the field then he was rushed to emergency care. In the coming days, Damar’s teammates and fans were relieved to hear he was making progress. Communicating by writing on a clipboard due to his breathing tube, Damar asked, “did we win?” His trauma surgeon replied, “Yes, Damar, you won. You won the game of life.” In a massive show of support— fans, NFL players, coaches, and executives donated to the Hamlin’s 2020 GoFundMe campaign for The Chasing M’s Foundation’s annual toy drive. A gifted and motivational speaker, Hamlin illuminates how his faith and gratitude have helped him overcome obstacles and offers motivational insights about entrepreneurship, community impact, and authentic leadership.