While it's unusual for players of any sport to engage in team events for any other team than their own, if the cause is right, it can happen.
Such was the case on Monday, as the Buffalo Bills safety joined forces with the Carolina Panthers, who hosted CPR and AED training and education courses for employees of Tepper Sports Entertainment, players on the Panthers roster, and season-ticket holders. Panthers co-owner Nicole Tepper said the experiences of Hamlin and Bills co-owner Kim Pegula, who was also saved after a cardiac arrest, inspired her to host the event.
“Once I saw Nicole at the Super Bowl, telling me about the event, [the] first thing I said was, ‘I’ll be there,'” Hamlin said, via Augusta Stone of the team’s website. “As you can see, anywhere I can [go], everywhere around the world, I just want to keep raising awareness and trying to get as many people that we can CPR certified. Because you never know when you can be that hero.”
The NFL, along with organizations including Hamlin's own foundation started the Smart Heart Sports Coalition earlier this year.
The group hopes to improve CPR education nationally while increasing automated external defibrillator (AED) access.
Along with the training provided, the David and Nicole Tepper Foundation made a donation to the American Heart Association to support efforts to make lifesaving devices available.
Hamlin very famously now suffered a cardiac arrest event on the field during a Monday Night Football matchup with the Bengals late in the 2022 season.
His life was saved due to the diligent efforts of first responders and the availability of lifesaving devices at the stadium.
Follow Timm Hamm on Twitter and Instagram
Thanks for reading our SI-powered coverage of your Buffalo Bills ... Bills Mafia!
You're a member of Bills Mafia hungry for more Buffalo coverage? Read here.
More must-reads: