The Buffalo Bills announced on Wednesday that veteran safety Damar Hamlin has agreed to a one-year contract extension.

Hamlin spent the last four years with the Bills, originally a sixth-round pick by the Bills in 2021 NFL draft out of Pittsburgh. The safety began his career as a backup and special teams player before becoming a starter in 2022-23 due to injuries sustained by the Bills’ starting safeties.

Hamlin, 26, experienced an on-field cardiac arrest during the “Monday Night Football” game in Cincinnati on Jan. 2, 2023.  He was hospitalized for more than a week in 2023, and was medically cleared to return to football. He served as a backup in 2023 as he worked his way back, both mentally and physically; and returned to a starting role in 2024, with 14 starts.

During his 2024-25 campaign, Hamlin totaled 89 combined tackles, five passes defensed and a career-high two interceptions, in addition to a fumble recovery.

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