An emotional Damar Hamlin stood on stage as he presented an honorable award to the Buffalo Bills training staff for saving his life.
Pat Tillman Award
The 2023 ESPY Awards, or Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Awards, is a prestigious event recognizing individual and team athletic achievement. Many prominent athletes from different sports fields came and supported the event.
The Pat Tillman Award for Service, is given to an individual who serves in the legacy left behind by Pat Tillman. ESPYS named the award after the former NFL player and hero. Pat gave up his career to enlist in the military and lost his life during his service.
This year’s recognition was given to the Buffalo Bills Training Staff for their immediate response that saved Damar’s life.
ESPN, Damar Hamlin Presents Award, Youtube, July 13, 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MguoQPhIgg
Emotional Damar Hamlin
The recipient of their service came on stage and presented the award, and called the staff on stage. But as they came forward, Damar wept with overwhelming gratitude for the heroes.
Damar expressed his excitement and gratitude for the team in a separate interview. “They wake up everyday with not wanting any credit for doing what they do. They just show up to do the job.”
He added, “For them to be on this big stage like this and get the recognition that they deserve for saving a life… it means everything.”
Also, Nate Breske, the head athletic trainer for Buffalo Bills, credits God for the outcome. “By the grace of God and divine intervention, we had the best outcome we could have prayed for or imagined. It was a massive army of specialists who came together on and off the field to do their jobs that night.”
“And Damar, first and foremost, thank you for staying alive, brother,” he said.
Header Image: ESPN, Damar Hamlin Presents Award, Youtube, July 13, 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MguoQPhIgg