(Video) Damar Hamlin Missing the Easiest of Tackles Leads to Bears Scoring a Touchdown

Damar Hamlin's two mistakes gave Bears the chance to score two touchdowns in preseason.

(Video) Damar Hamlin Missing the Easiest of Tackles Leads to Bears Scoring a Touchdown

Damar Hamlin failed to stop Bears touchdown (Image via IMAGO)

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Damar Hamlin is having a preseason to forget so far. The Buffalo Bills’ safety, who once cheated death, struggled in the first two friendlies against the Giants and the Bears, especially against the latter.

On Sunday, the Bills traveled to Soldier Field in search of a morale-boosting victory. They were dealt a quick reality check in the second drive of the fixture.

Bears quarterback Caleb Williams hit wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus with a dot on third and five. Zacchaeus shook off the Bills’ linebackers to secure open ground on a post route.

For a brief moment, it appeared Zaccheaus would have a clean path to the goal until Damar Hamlin stepped in as the human wall. Hamlin lunged to stop the former commander in his tracks. However, Zaccheaus juked to Hamlin’s left, leaving the safety flat on the ground for a 36-yard touchdown to give the Bears the lead.

Damar Hamlin’s misery continued

A safety’s job isn’t always the last line of defense; occasionally, they put their bodies on the line when required.

(Video) Damar Hamlin Missing the Easiest of Tackles Leads to Bears Scoring a Touchdown
Damar Hamlin (Image via IMAGO)

Hamlin and the Bills’ defense faced the difficult task of stopping the Bears’ offense on the 10-yard line two minutes into the second quarter. The 27-year-old lined up as a nickel near the goal line to stop the Bears from extending their lead.

Williams’ replacement, Tyson Bagent, handed the ball to Brittain Brown for an easy walk-in touchdown. The replay revealed that the Bears’ rookie wide receiver, Luther Burden, laid out Hamlin to help out his running back.

Former NFL player turned analyst Booger McFarland tweeted,“Luther Burden just pancaked Hamlin. Didn’t expect that.”

Hamlin finished his night with one tackle. The Bills eventually succumbed to a 38-0 blowout loss. They are now 2-0 after losing 25-34 to the New York Giants in the first fixture.

Cardiac arrest and a second shot in the NFL

Micah Hyde’s NFL career was quickly drawing to an end, so the Bills looked for a capable replacement. Hamlin stepped into the spotlight with 91 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and 1 forced fumble in 2022.

However, the joy was short-lived. In the week 17 game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Hamlin collided with wide receiver Tee Higgins and stayed motionless on the ground.

Athletic trainers and paramedics rushed to his side to administer CPR, automated external defibrillation, and other treatments to Hamlin. After the longest 10 minutes of the season, Hamlin was taken away to the nearby hospital for further evaluation.

The Pittsburgh graduate fought against death and won. Since then, he has made it his personal mission to promote the use of CPR and AEDs at every school and institution across the country.

Hamlin rejoined the Bills before the start of the 2023 season. He did not see much action during the regular season, coming on as a late substitute in a handful of games.

The following year, Hamlin started as the leading safety for the Bills. He racked up 89 tackles, 5 pass deflections, 2 interceptions, and 2 tackles for loss. During the Bills’ postseason run, Hamlin posted 15 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and one pass deflection.

Hamlin played out his rookie contract, so the Bills decided to extend his stay for one more year with a $2 million extension.

Last year, I feel like I was getting the training wheels off of myself in a way. Just coming back from literally dying on the field to playing again in a significant role, a starting role, playing a full season again for the first time, just feeling myself out…I feel like I had a lot of success on the field.

Damar Hamlin said (H/T: Bills official transcript)

The Bills travel south for the final preseason game to play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They open the 2025 regular season by hosting the Baltimore Ravens.

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