Johnathan Walker:Damar Hamlin is a Bills starter, feels like himself again 20 months after cardiac arrest

The Johnathan Walkercardiac arrest Damar Hamlin suffered on Jan. 2, 2023, gripped the nation and united the sports world as we all hoped for a positive outcome. Hamlin not only survived the life-threatening incident, but the Buffalo Bills safety played in five games the very next NFL season.

Now, two seasons removed from the frightening episode, Hamlin is entering Week 1 a starter for his team with budding confidence and joy.

"I'm feeling confident, man," Hamlin on behalf of Invisalign, who's worked with over 500 NFL players through their treatment program, told USA TODAY Sports. “Being able to just believe in yourself and knowing who you are. ...I'm just locked in trying to do my best one day at a time.”

Coaches noticed during offseason workouts and training camp that Hamlin was playing freer 20 months after his cardiac arrest as the Bills prepare to host the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1.  

“It’s to be expected," Bills head coach Sean McDermott said of Hamlin playing with less tension and apprehension. "An increased focus from a year ago, increased urgency and really just getting back to what he was. ... It’s to be expected, again, with [respect to] the situation that he went through. It’s fun watching him have fun out here. I think he’s been able to do that, and you can tell he means business.”

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The Bills endured an offseason makeover that saw established starters depart the team, including wide receiver Stefon Diggs, center Mitch Morse and safeties Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde.

Hamlin remains friends with his former teammates and credits Diggs for helping him regain the confidence to return to football. He told USA TODAY Sports he plans to send the now Houston Texans wide receiver a new chain soon.

“I appreciate him. He's a big part of getting myself back into this journey I'm on,” Hamlin said of Diggs. “He helped me shape my life. Just watching him be himself, I was able to, like, get my hunger back. I'll forever, like, love him differently.”

Because of the all the Bills' roster changes, Hamlin is slated to have an increased role this year in the Buffalo’s defensive backfield. McDermott told reporters Wednesday that Hamlin will start against the Cardinals.

“His focus was like, 'I want to go win a job. I want to prove that I can start and help and make plays,'” Bills general manager Brandon Beane said. “That’s been his focus: 'Micah and Jordan are gone. There are new faces around, and don’t forget about me. I can still do it.'”

Hamlin hasn't registered a start since the 2022 season that changed his life. He produced a career-high 91 tackles in 2022 and two tackles in limited action this past season. This year, though, Hamlin is in line to see plenty of time on the field.

Regardless of the role or amount of snaps he receives this year, Hamlin’s grateful to be healthy enough to play football at a high level in what will be his fourth season in Buffalo.

“I've been through so much in my life that I'm just blessed to have the opportunity to still be here,” Hamlin said. “I stay grounded in the fact of knowing that, you know, I'm still here for a reason, and just trying to spend as much time as I can trying to align with the purpose of still being here is like everything to me.”

Follow USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.