>
Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin credited his parents for his success before being rushed to the hospital after a horrific collision sent him into cardiac arrest on the field.
The 24-year-old remains in ICU in critical condition after collapsing during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night.
His mother, Nina, 41, attended the game and accompanied her son in the ambulance as he was transported to the hospital.
Hamlin was born in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania in 1998, when his mother was just 16 and his father, Mario, just 17.
Damar Hamlin remains in ICU in critical condition after collapsing during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night.
His mother, Nina, 41, attended the game and went with her son in the ambulance as he was transported to hospital.
The NFL star was forced to spend nearly four years without his father Mario, 42, who was jailed for three and a half years after being convicted of selling drugs to make ends meet.
The couple started an office cleaning business together, and Nina still runs a daycare in Pennsylvania.
A GoFundMe which Hamlin started when he was in college at Pittsburgh, before he was recruited, has raised more than $4 million for Toy Drive since the incident.
Hamlin has credited both of her parents for her success, with her mother being her strongest support system.
In a 2021 interview, he said: ‘I’m extremely close to my family. My mom was sixteen when she had me and I just try to think of when I was sixteen and couldn’t imagine having a little boy.
“It was probably very stressful, but my parents had my children, at the age of sixteen, and from then on they put everything they had into me to get me to where I am now.”
The 24-year-old has no children of his own yet, but he has a younger brother, Damir, who was born in 2015. He also wants to be a soccer star like his older brother.
The 24-year-old has no children of his own yet, but he has a younger brother, Damir, who was born in 2015. He also wants to be a soccer star like his older brother.
His family issued a statement thanking the ‘dedicated’ first responders who rushed to help him after he collapsed.
He remained in close contact with his father while incarcerated, with Mario calling his son as much as he could to see how he was doing with his soccer ball.
He added that at first it was just the three of them, him and his parents, explaining that they taught him “hard work” and “life lessons.”
The NFL star was forced to spend nearly four years without his father, 42, who was jailed for three and a half years after being convicted of selling drugs to make ends meet.
Hamlin also witnessed three of them being shot dead when he was a teenager. The murders remain unsolved.
After attending Central Catholic High School, Hamlin decided to attend and play football at the University of Pittsburgh to be close to home, playing five seasons from 2016-2020.
Damar Hamlin’s family thanked the ‘dedicated first responders’ who resuscitated the Buffalo Bills player after he collapsed and went into cardiac arrest on the field.
Hamlin has credited both of her parents for her success, with her mother being her strongest support system.
The NFL star was forced to spend nearly four years without his father, 42, who was jailed for three and a half years after being convicted of selling drugs to make ends meet.
He remained in close contact with his father while he was incarcerated, with Mario calling his son as much as he could to check on him.
The Bills star said: “There were times where I could have turned left or right, but my parents were always there to straighten me out and get me back on track.”
‘I have to give them credit, it really had nothing to do with me. All she had to do was listen and that’s the kind of kid he was.
“It was hard, it was a real adjustment, I really had to grow up and figure out life on my own for a while without having a father figure in my life.”
Hamlin was born in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania in 1998, when his mother was just 16 and his father, Mario, just 17.
The star posted a tribute to her father in Father’s Dad on Instagram, including a photo of them together while he was in prison.
A GoFundMe that Hamlin started when he was at the University of Pittsburgh, before he was drafted, has raised more than $4 million for Toy Drive since the incident.
‘The good thing is that I had reasonable goals and good morals already established in me during that period of time.
“He was never out of my life, but physically he wasn’t there, and that was different, it’s a different ballgame to be on the phone than in person.”
“But being who I was and what had already been instilled in me, I stayed focused.”
The Buffalo Bills selected Hamlin in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, 212th overall, and on May 21, 2021, he agreed to a four-year rookie contract with the team.
Damar Hamlin pictured with her mother, Nina, before the Bills played the Browns in an NFL game on November 20. Hamlin has talked about how close he is to his family.
Hamlin (No. 3) got to his feet briefly after tackling Higgins before falling backwards in shocking scenes as the Buffalo Bills played the Cincinnati Bengals.
Hamlin collapsed moments later, falling backwards and lying motionless on the ground.
He was promoted to one of the Bills’ starting safeties after Micha Hyde suffered a neck injury.
The star posted a tribute to her father in Father’s Dad on Instagram, including a photo of them together while he was in prison.
He said: ‘We weathered all the storms of hell and came back together as a family. I am not ashamed of our history because he made us who we are.
‘Happy Father’s Day pops. You taught me a lot in life, but something that will always stay with me is making sacrifices for the people you love. Whatever it takes for the family.