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Damar Hamlin gets fired up when he meets Denny Hamlin

Brian Jones Profile Picby:Brian Jones•06/23/25•

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Damar Hamlin Denny Hamlin
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images// Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin was excited to meet NASCAR star Denny Hamlin over the weekend. On Denny Hamlin’s X/Twitter account, he shared a video of meeting Damar Hamlin at Fanatics Fest.

“I’ve been waiting to meet you since I was in f***ing middle school, bro,” Damar said. That led to Denny saying to Damar, “Don’t age me like that.”

Damar then replied,” I’m just saying, bro. I’ve been excited. You’re the first famous Hamlin I knew. I’m like I gotta make it some way, somehow. I was always claiming you as a cousin. ‘Yeah, that’s my cousin.'”

It’s been a journey for Damar Hamlin, who re-signed with the Bills on a one-year contract in March. On January 2, 2023, Damar collapsed during the game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football. He suffered a cardiac arrest after making a tackle, and first responders restored his heartbeat on the field.

Damar missed the rest of the 2022 season and returned to action during the 2023 preseason. He played in just five games during the regular season and notched two tackles.

More on Damar Hamlin and Denny Hamlin

In 2024, Damar became the starting safety for the Bills and recorded 89 tackles, two interceptions and five passes defended in 14 regular-season games. He also played in three postseason games and tallied 15 tackles, one sack and one forced fumble.

“It feels amazing to be back,” Hamlin said after signing his contract with the Bills, per Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. “This is home, this is all I know as a pro. I’m connected to this place on a totally different level. So this is the place I want to be, where I want to spend my whole career if I can. It feels good to be back.”

Hamlin added, “Last year I felt like I was getting the training wheels off. Coming back from literally dying on the field to playing a game in a significant role, a starting role, playing a full season again for the first time. I feel like I had a lot of success on the field.”

Denny Hamlin is one of the most successful drivers in NASCAR history. He won 57 NASCAR Cup Series races, including the Daytona 500 three times. Denny also co-owns 23XI Racing with Michael Jordan, and his driver, Tyler Reddick, won the regular season title last year.