Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin urges fans to join Nation of Lifesavers, learn lifesaving CPR

American Heart Association & NFL team up to boost CPR readiness on World Restart a Heart Day

American Heart Association Press Release & Logo

To boost awareness of CPR, the American Heart Association and National Football League are unveiling the 2025 Nation of Lifesavers Player Ambassador Class on World Restart a Heart Day, which takes places annually on Oct. 16. The ambassador class is made up of 30 current NFL players who are dedicated to promoting this lifesaving skill. Included on that roster is the Buffalo Bills’ own safety Damar Hamlin.

“You may know that CPR saved my life on the field. And thanks to the Buffalo Bills, the NFL and the American Heart Association, the people around me knew exactly what to do. I am proud to be an ambassador to make sure everyone, everywhere knows the lifesaving skill of CPR,” Hamlin said.

Ambassadors support the American Heart Association’s call to action to learn CPR by amplifying public service announcements, social media content and local community education events.

Members of the 2025 Nation of Lifesaver Ambassador Class are.

• Arizona Cardinals – Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, safety
• Atlanta Falcons – Bradley Pinion, punter
• Buffalo Bills – Damar Hamlin, safety. In addition to representing the Bills, Hamlin also serves as national ambassador for the Nation of Lifesavers
• Carolina Panthers – Sam Martin, punter
• Chicago Bears – Tremaine Edmunds, linebacker
• Cincinnati Bengals – Kris Jenkins, defensive tackle
• Cleveland Browns – Denzel Ward, cornerback
• Dallas Cowboys – Rivaldo Fairweather, tight end; and Reddy Steward, cornerback
• Denver Broncos – Jonathon Cooper, linebacker
• Green Bay Packers – Donovan Jennings, offensive guard
• Houston Texans – Jaylin Noel, wide receiver
• Indianapolis Colts – Neville Gallimore, defensive tackle; and Austin Ajiake, linebacker
• Jacksonville Jaguars – Khalen Saunders, defensive tackle
• Kansas City Chiefs – Creed Humphrey, offensive lineman; and George Karlaftis, defensive end
• Los Angeles Chargers – Austin Deculus, offensive lineman
• Los Angeles Rams – Jordan Whittington, wide receiver
• Miami Dolphins – Zach Sieler, defensive tackle
• Minnesota Vikings – Jalen Redmond, defensive end
• New Orleans Saints – Justin Reid, safety
• New York Giants – Devin Singletary, running back
• Philadelphia Eagles – Charley Hughlett, long snapper
• San Francisco 49ers – Thomas Morstead, punter
• Seattle Seahawks – D’Anthony Bell, safety
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers – C.J. Brewer, defensive lineman
• Tennessee Titans – Julius Chestnut, running back
• Washington Commanders – Brandon Coleman, offensives; and Chris Paul, guard

“When someone has a sudden cardiac arrest, immediate CPR can mean the difference between life and death. Thanks to the leadership of the NFL and its players, including Damar Hamlin, millions of people now understand just how critical it is to be prepared to act, said Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association. “Our shared commitment has inspired a movement, and together we’re building a nation of lifesavers.”

Over half of sudden cardiac arrest victims outside hospitals don’t receive immediate CPR – leading to a 90% fatality rate, according to the American Heart Association. Yet learning hands-only CPR takes just 90 seconds and can double or triple survival chances.

“The NFL's partnership with the American Heart Association will ensure that all members of the NFL family can serve as lifesavers during medical emergencies,” said Anna Isaacson, NFL senior vice president of social responsibility. “We look forward to working with our Nation of Lifesaver Player Ambassadors to expand access to vital CPR training and education in communities across the country.”

This is the second annual ambassador class. The initiative supports the American Heart Association’s Nation of Lifesavers movement, which launched in 2023 following the sudden cardiac arrest of Hamlin during “Monday Night Football.”

The American Heart Association is the global leader in CPR – publishing the official guidelines for CPR and, for more than 60 years, creating resuscitation science, education and training. The Nation of Lifesavers and the collaboration with the NFL is the American Heart Association’s most recent demonstration of its commitment to CPR education and in support of its goal to double survival rates of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest by 2030.

To further bring CPR training to the community level, the NFL Foundation provides CPR grants to each team to help increase CPR and AED (automated external defibrillator) access in community neighborhoods. Since 2023, the annual grants have funded hands-only CPR training, Heartsaver CPR AED credentialling, placement of CPR in schools kits and CPR youth sports kits. Each team works to create a plan customized to the needs of their local market.

The American Heart Association has worked alongside more than half of the NFL teams to educate players and staff, local youth coaches and fan families on hands-only CPR and train in Heartsaver CPR AED. The Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks and the Tennessee Titans, have since hosted American Heart Association trainings and education opportunities making their community better prepared to respond to a cardiac emergency where fans live, work and play.

Additionally, as part of the NFL PLAY 60 youth health and wellness efforts in schools alongside the American Heart Association, the hands-only CPR education is a key pillar within the Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge, where students and families learn how to save lives with hands-only CPR. In just a few simple steps, they discover how to recognize a cardiac emergency, call 911, and take action by pushing hard and fast in the center of the chest. By learning and sharing this lifesaving skill, students become champions for heart health in their schools, homes and communities.

The American Heart Association is also a founding member of the Smart Heart Sports Coalition established by the NFL in 2023. The coalition is actively advocating for all 50 states to adopt evidence-based public policies that will prevent fatal outcomes from cardiac arrest among high school students. According to the American Heart Association, more than 23,000 children under the age of 18 experience cardiac outside of a hospital annually, and about 40% of those occur among student-athletes. It is a leading cause of death for student-athletes nationwide.

With nearly 3 out of 4 cardiac arrests outside of the hospital occurring in homes, knowing how to perform CPR is critically important. If a teen or adult collapses, witnesses should immediately call 9-1-1 emergency services and begin chest compressions at a rate of 100-120 beats per minute and a depth of approximately 2 inches. Hands-only CPR is chest compression-only CPR. Learn CPR today, visit www.heart.org/nation.

More about the American Heart Association: The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than 100 years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.