Kenny Pickett, Damar Hamlin share special moment following preseason matchup
What a special moment betweeen two former Panthers as Damar Hamlin and Kenny Pickett got together after the Steelers-Bills game for a quick hello and a jersey exchange.
It still feels like a miracle that Hamlin, the Bills safety, is back on the field after what he nearly died in early January after a freak hit during Monday Night Football. And Pickett, the Steelers quarterback, was one of his biggest supporters.
The two starred for Pitt and were teammates from 2017-2020. They even served as co-captains for the Panthers in 2020. The NFL shared the video of their post-game meet-up, writing “Nothing but respect between Damar Hamlin and Kenny Pickett.”
Check out this college photo of Kenny Pickett, Damar Hamlin
If you’d like a sentimental memory from the Panthers, Pitt beat writer Amanda Godsey shared a photo of the two before the game.
She wrote: “My phone’s “on this day” feature brought up these photos from the Pitt Fan Fest I covered in 2019. Exactly four years later, all three of these guys will be back on the field at Acrisure Stadium tonight, albeit on opposite sides—Kenny Pickett, Dane Jackson, and Damar Hamlin.”
Steelers quarterback described the Bills safety as family
The two also met (and hugged) at midfield for the pre-game coin toss. Then after the game, Pickett asked his friend for a jersey swap. Hamlin also wanted to give a jersey to Steelers coach Mike Tomlin. After all, the Steelers always were a special team for Hamlin, who grew up seven miles from the team’s office complex.
Pickett was home, watching a Bengals-Bills game on Jan 2 when he saw his friend collapse on the field. He said then that the Buffalo safety was “like family” to him because of their friendship from their days as Panthers.
“Everyone’s rallying together for Damar,” Pickett told reporters when Hamlin still was in a Cincinnati hospital.
But on a Saturday night in August, it solely was about football and friendship. The Steelers won, 27-15. And Pickett led the offense to two touchdowns before he took a seat on the bench. Overall, he completed three of his four attempts for 43 yards and a touchdown to Pat Freiermuth.
Meanwhile, Hamlin was in on three tackles while playing the first half. He then took a seat on the bench.