Damar Hamlin Fights Back Tears at ESPYs, Honors First Responders Who Saved His Life

Damar Hamlin is not ashamed to let his feelings show.

More than six months after he suffered a cardiac arrest on the field during a Monday Night Football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, the professional athlete is getting ready for his miraculous return to the NFL. However, before that, he wore his emotions on his sleeve as he presented the Buffalo Bills training staff that saved his life with a befitting award on Wednesday night.

For anybody who has followed Hamlin's incredible journey from his technical death on the field to his speedy recovery, it is clear that he would not have survived without the quick-acting Bills paramedics and trainers.

Thus, it came as no surprise when the life-saving group was chosen to receive the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the 2023 ESPYS ceremony on Wednesday, July 12, from the 25-year-old.

Per PEOPLE, before the Buffalo Bills safety handed the first responders the award, he was heard telling his story in a clip. In his words:

"I didn't wake up that morning in January thinking that I would need someone to save my life that day, and I doubt that the staff thought that they had to do what they did either. What I've taken away from what happened to me six and a half months ago is that any of us at any given time are capable of doing something that's incredible, in saving a life and living a life in service to others."

He effused that it was "a blessing" and "a responsibility" to live a life of service, which was the "very reason" people could hear his voice at that moment. "Anyone could be a hero. These are mine," he concluded in the clip before the camera showcased him breaking down in tears on stage.

The public show of emotion roused the audience, who promptly rose to their feet and applauded him until he successfully pulled himself together. Hamlin eventually introduced the training staff and cried some more as he handed the award to them.

Accepting the trophy, which is an annual recognition given to an individual(s) who serve others in honor of the late Tillman, the Bills' head athletic trainer, Nate Breske, said:

"I'm humbled and honored to be speaking tonight, representing the Buffalo Bills athletic training staff... By the grace of God and divine intervention, we had the best outcome we could have prayed for."

A clip that showed the emotional moments between Hamlin and the staff was shared in a tweet by Barstool Sports that has since received thousands of likes and retweets, with a few people quoting it with their takes.

Prior to this event, the training staff and the sportsman had been honored by the NFL in February, with Sheryl Lee Ralph and Bills legend Jim Kelly introducing them on stage.

When he took over the mic for his acceptance speech, the Central Catholic alum expressed his gratitude to "God for even being here" and admitted that he still had a long way to go regarding his recovery.

He, however, was beyond thankful for the medical team who resuscitated him through defibrillation and CPR when he collapsed and for the NFL for honoring them with the 2023 NFLPA Alan Page Community Award.

In May, The Blast observed that Hamlin's recovery had progressed significantly when he was seen doing individual drills and stretching at the Bills Organized Activities (OTAs) while his teammates did their sessions on the field.

Knowing that the sighting would cause an expectant reaction online, the Bills' head coach, Sean McDermott, had to make clarifications during a media briefing earlier on the same day. 

"We're just going to continue to take it one day at a time and support Damar in every way possible," he began. The briefing, which also saw McDermott stating that Hamlin was "in the building working" and not practicing alongside his other team members, was shared via Twitter with the text:

"We're live with Coach McDermott as he meets with the media before practice at One Bills Drive. #GoBills | #BillsDrive.”

The live update was liked by hundreds of Bills' supporters, receiving multiple comments, with this netizen tweeting, "Need him. Dolphins' best chance at winning the division is McDermott making decisions."