Damar Hamlin Net Worth: How Much Is The Bill Safety Worth?

Damar Hamlin is an American football safety who plays for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Bills in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft after a successful college career at the University of Pittsburgh. Hamlin has been a key contributor to Bill’s defense, especially in the 2022 season when he became a starter following an injury to Micah Hyde.

But how much is Damar Hamlin worth? What is his salary and contract with the Bills? And what happened to him when he collapsed on the field during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals in January 2023?

Damar Hamlin’s Early Life and College Career

Damar Hamlin was born on March 24, 1998, in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania. He attended Central Catholic High School in Pittsburgh, where he was a star football player. He was named first-team All-State and the Class AAAA Defensive Player of the Year.

Hamlin was a highly sought-after recruit by many major college football programs, including Pittsburgh, Penn State, Ohio State, and Temple. He chose to stay close to home and play for the Pittsburgh Panthers. He played in three games as a freshman before suffering an injury that sidelined him for the rest of the season. He received a medical redshirt for that year.

As a redshirt freshman, Hamlin played in 11 games and recorded 32 tackles and two interceptions. He became a full-time starter as a sophomore and led the team with four interceptions. He also had 90 tackles, two forced fumbles, and seven pass breakups. He earned second-team All-ACC honors as a junior and senior, finishing his college career with 275 tackles, six interceptions, 21 pass breakups, and four forced fumbles.

Damar Hamlin’s NFL Career and Contract

Damar Hamlin entered the 2021 NFL Draft as a projected late-round pick or undrafted free agent. He was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the sixth round with the 212th overall pick. He signed a four-year contract with the team worth $3.6 million, which included a signing bonus of $160,476. His contract also guaranteed him $320,952 in total.

Hamlin spent most of his rookie season as a backup and special teams player. He appeared in 15 games and made nine tackles. In his second season, he became a regular starter after Micah Hyde suffered a season-ending injury in week six. He played in all 17 games and started 11 of them. He recorded 93 tackles, 1.5 sacks, four pass breakups, and one forced fumble. He helped the Bills win their second consecutive AFC East title and reach the AFC Championship Game for the second year in a row.

According to Spotrac, Hamlin’s base salary for the 2022 season was $825,000. His cap hit was $865,119, which ranked 41st among all safeties in the NFL. His contract will pay him $940,000 in 2023 and $1,055,000 in 2024 before he becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2025.

Based on his contract and estimated earnings from endorsements and other sources, Damar Hamlin’s net worth is around $1 million as of 2023.

Damar Hamlin’s On-Field Collapse and Recovery

On January 2, 2023, during a Monday Night Football game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium, Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field after making a tackle on Tee Higgins in the first quarter. He did not move or respond to any stimuli. Medical personnel rushed to his aid and performed CPR for about 10 minutes before he was taken away by an ambulance. It was later revealed that he had suffered a cardiac arrest due to an undiagnosed heart condition.

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Hamlin was initially taken to a local hospital in Cincinnati where he was placed in a medically induced coma and underwent surgery to implant a defibrillator in his chest. He showed signs of improvement over the next few days and was transferred to a Buffalo hospital on January 7. He was discharged from the hospital on January 11 and returned to his home in Buffalo to continue his rehabilitation.

Hamlin received an outpouring of support from his teammates, coaches, fans, and the NFL community. He also received the NFLPA Alan Page Community Award and the George Halas Award for his courage and perseverance. He made a full recovery and was cleared to resume his football career in April 2023. He rejoined the Bills for their offseason workouts and training camp and was ready to play in the 2023 season.

Conclusion

Damar Hamlin is a young and talented safety who plays for the Buffalo Bills. He has overcome a lot of challenges and adversity in his life and career, including a near-fatal cardiac arrest on the field. He has also proven himself as a valuable and reliable player for the Bills defense. His net worth is estimated to be around $1 million as of 2023, but it could increase significantly if he continues to perform well and earns a bigger contract in the future. Damar Hamlin is an inspiring and remarkable story of resilience and determination.