Bills' Damar Hamlin gets emotional visiting spot of cardiac arrest after game vs. Bengals

Jacob Camenker

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Bills' Damar Hamlin gets emotional visiting spot of cardiac arrest after game vs. Bengals image

Damar Hamlin had a full-circle moment Sunday when he returned to Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati for the first time since his on-field cardiac arrest.

Hamlin didn't play in the game against the Bengals, as he was inactive for the contest. Even so, being in the stadium was clearly an emotional experience for the Bills safety.

Hamlin didn't show many emotions on the sideline during the game; he was instead staying engaged with what was happening while trying to support his teammates.

MORE: How Bills loss to Bengals impacts the AFC East standings

But after the game, Hamlin took some time for himself. He lingered on the field long after play finished and the stadium emptied, standing on and around the Bengals' logo, where his near-fatal cardiac arrest occurred.

Below is what it looked like as he took in that scene around him.

Hamlin was not interviewed after the Bills' 24-18 loss to the Bengals, but he took to social media to express his feelings after his return to Cincinnati.

"Tonight was everything for me," Hamlin wrote. "Y’all don’t know the half of it. Trust me."

Hamlin may not have played for the Bills against the Bengals, but his presence was certainly felt in Cincinnati over the weekend. On Sunday, the Cincinnati crowd on hand at Paycor Stadium gave him a warm welcome with several fans bringing signs wishing him well.

MORE: The relationship between Damar Hamlin & Tee Higgins, explained

And before that, Hamlin himself showcased his gratitude to the 10 members of the University of Cincinnati Medical Center staff that he credited with helping save his life. He dined with them and presented each with a scholarship in their honor that will "support youth in Cincy to chase their dreams."

Thus, it's no surprise that this week was an emotional one for Hamlin. His poignant moment at midfield was a perfect way to cap it off just 10 months after his cardiac arrest at that very spot.

Jacob Camenker

Jacob Camenker Photo

Jacob Camenker first joined The Sporting News as a fantasy football intern in 2018 after his graduation from UMass. He became a full-time employee with TSN in 2021 and now serves as a senior content producer with a particular focus on the NFL. Jacob worked at NBC Sports Boston as a content producer from 2019 to 2021. He is an avid fan of the NFL Draft and ranked 10th in FantasyPros’ Mock Draft Accuracy metric in both 2021 and 2022.